Optimization and sensitivity analysis of fast ethanol assay in maize seeds

Abstract

The evaluation of seed deterioration is very important to control the quality of the seeds stored. This study aimed to investigate the potential of fast ethanol assay for seed quality assessment of maize stored under different conditions. The first experiment was to determine the incubating temperature, incubating time, and amount of seed used in the assay. The results showed that the best protocol for the detection of headspace ethanol was incubation of 3 g of maize seed with 20% moisture content (wet basis) in a 20 mL gas chromatography vial at 70 °C for 1.5 h. The assay induced approximately 200-700 µg.L-1 of headspace ethanol, which was sufficient to identify seeds with different vigour levels. In the second experiment, the optimal conditions were used for quality assessment in aged maize seed stored for 12 months under different storage conditions. The increase in the ethanol production of stored maize seed under the controlled conditions (15 °C and 20% RH in the hermetic seal) was lower than under ambient conditions. The ethanol production levels of maize seed samples at the start of storage was significantly lesser than at six months storage (p < 0.05). The test limitations in deteriorated seed with different cultivars and ages will be discussed.

Development of an ethylometer with an MQ-3 sensor for measuring ethanol in soybean seeds

“…Based on the results (Figure 4), it is possible to state that the MQ-3 sensor could be used as a tool to control fermentation in soybean seeds, as a future vigor test. In tests that assess the amount of ethanol released by seeds, such as those conducted by Buckley & Buckley (2009) in canola seeds, Kodde et al (2012) in cabbage seeds, Onwimol et al (2019) in corn, and Cavalcante et al (2019) in beans, the authors used an adapted ethylometer, specific for humans, and reported problems with the equipment at some moments of the analyses. It is worth noting that the ethylometer identifies, through a quick and adequate analysis of the air expelled from the lungs, the presence and quantity of alcohol in the body, providing results equivalent to the values found in alveolar air.…”

An Automatic Method for Rice Seed Vigor Classification Via Radicle Emergence Test Using Image Processing, Curve Fitting and Clustering Method

“…In the past, seed scientists have used two or three laboratory-based indirect methods together to determine seed vigor accurately, including the stress test, electrical conductivity test and seed growth rate test [2,27,28]. Other methods, such as fast ethanol assay, do not consider seedling performance but rely on expensive sensors and have not been reported to be successful with rice seed [29,30].…”

An Automatic Method for Rice Seed Vigor Classification Via Radicle Emergence Testing Using Image-Processing, Curve-Fitting and Clustering Methods

“…In the past, seed scientists have used two or three laboratory-based indirect methods together to accurately determine seed vigor, including the stress test, electrical conductivity test and seed growth rate test [2,31,33]. Other methods, such as fast ethanol assays, do not consider seedling performance but rely on expensive sensors and have not been reported to be successful with rice seeds [34,35].…”