Physiological quality of soybean seeds artificially cooled and stored in different packages

Abstract

A B S T R A C TThe aeration of seeds with artificially cooled air and their storage in big-bag packages aim to lengthen the shelf life while maintaining the quality. Thus, the objective was to study the effects of cooling before storage on germination and vigor of soybean seeds stored in trifoliate kraft paper bag and big bag in non-air-conditioned environment. Seeds of soybean cultivar NA 7337 RR were mechanically harvested in March 2013, holding an average moisture content of 18% w.b. In June, 16,000 kg of seeds were processed and cooled to 18 °C. Equal amount of non-cooled seeds was used as a control. Equally divided in kraft paper and in big bags, and combining cooling and packaging, the seeds were stored for three months and analyzed for moisture content, germination and vigor. Cooling to room temperature and different packaging types had similar effects on seed quality. Big bags packing showed better efficiency in retaining the moisture content of cooled seeds. No direct effects of cooling could be identified prior to storage on the germination and vigor of soybean seeds.Qualidade fisiológica de sementes de soja resfriadas artificialmente e armazenadas em diferentes embalagens R E S U M O A aeração de sementes com ar artificialmente resfriado e o armazenamento em embalagens do tipo 'big bags' , podem proporcionar melhor manutenção da qualidade fisiológica. Assim, objetivou-se avaliar a qualidade fisiológica de sementes de soja resfriadas artificialmente e armazenadas em diferentes embalagens em ambiente não climatizado. Sementes de soja, cultivar NA 7337 RR, foram colhidas mecanicamente em março de 2013, com teor de água médio de 18% (b.u.). Em junho 16.000 kg de sementes foram beneficiados e resfriados até 18 ºC. Quantidade semelhante de sementes não resfriadas foi utilizada como controle. Divididas em embalagens de papel 'kraft' e em 'big bags' combinando resfriamento e embalagem, as sementes foram armazenadas por três meses e analisadas quanto ao teor de água, germinação e vigor. O resfriamento e a temperatura ambiente e os tipos diferentes de embalagem tiveram efeitos semelhantes na qualidade fisiológica das sementes. As embalagens 'big bags' foram mais eficientes na manutenção do teor de água das sementes resfriadas. Não foram identificados efeitos diretos do resfriamento na germinação nem no vigor das sementes de soja, antes do armazenamento.

Adaptation of technological packaging for conservation of soybean seeds in storage units as an alternative to modified atmospheres

“…over six months of storage. These results contrast several studies that evaluated the quality of soybean seeds in different packaging and storage environments, achieving satisfactory results when the seeds were stored at low temperatures in environments considered artificially cooled [20,23,24,26,32,37,38,42,44,46,47,50].…”

“…cultivar RR. The ANEL condition differed positively from the others, maintaining the apparent specific mass of the seeds over the six months of storage, while the other treatments achieved satisfactory results until the fourth months of storage, contrary to several published works with different packages and refrigerated environments [20,23,24,26,32,37,38,42,44,46,47,50]. Cluster 3 was formed by P1, P2, P5, P9, P13, P14, P15, P16, P20, P21, P25, P26, P29, P33, P37, P38, P39, P40, P41, P45, and P47, and no variable stood out.…”

“…), respectively, due to packaging permeability, which allowed the water exchange with the environment. Virgolino et al [ 38 ] studied different packaging and storage conditions for 90 days and found greater conservation of water content and temperatures in soybean seed lots stored in big bags in air-conditioned environments when compared with kraft paper packaging. Zuffo et al [ 39 ] studied the physiological and sanitary quality of soybean seeds harvested in different periods and subject to storage in a non-conditioned environment for 240 days and found a significant reduction in water content due to the permeability of the packaging, which allowed the seeds to enter hygroscopic balance with higher relative air humidity.…”

“…), respectively, due to packaging permeability, which allowed the water exchange with the environment. Virgolino et al [38] studied different packaging and storage conditions for 90 days and found greater conservation of water content and temperatures in soybean seed lots stored…”

Influence of Soybean Seed Moisture Content in the Response to Seed Treatment in Soybean

“…Afterwards, the longevity or period of viability of seeds is directly linked to their moisture content, which depends on the temperature and relative humidity of the storage environment (MBOFUNG et al, 2013). Particularly in Brazil, where a large part of soybean seeds is produced and stored in tropical regions, efforts towards reducing the temperature of seed batches and also the moisture content of seeds are becoming more common (DEMITO;AFONSO, 2009;LACERDA-FILHO, 2011;ZUCHI et al, 2013;VIRGOLINO et al, 2016).…”