Articles
RAPID EVALUATION OF THE STORAGE POTENTIAL OF SEED PEAS
Article number
83_17
Pages
133 – 140
Language
Abstract
Samples of 13 seed lots from six cultivars of peas were drawn from commercial warehouses following up to two years storage.
With increased time in storage, a decline in seed vigour was indicated by an increase in the leaching of electrolytes from the seeds and reduced vital staining, although viability was still maintained at a level above the minimum standard (80%). At the same time, the decline in vigour of the seed lots in the warehouses did not occur at the same rate.
Furthermore, differences in the rate of deterioration, seen in increased leaching following storage for 6 weeks in 93% rh at 25°C or 1 day in 94% rh at 45°C were also seen in the laboratory, and a positive correlation between the leachate conductivities after the two treatments suggested that the relative responses of the seed lots were the same in both storage conditions.
The conductivity of 7 seed lots measured after 1 day in 94% rh at 45°C was also positively correlated with conductivity readings obtained after one year of commercial storage.
Thus the response of seed lots to storage in laboratory conditions was indicative of that following prolonged storage.
It is suggested that the decline in vigour during periods of warehouse storage is one factor responsible for the existence of some of the low vigour seed lots seen in peas.
Evaluation of the storage potential of seed lots by use of a laboratory storage test such as conductivity measurements of leachates following 1 day in 94% rh at 45°C, would enable prediction of seed storage potential to be made and consequently the selection of lots for storage that show a minimal decline in vigour.
With increased time in storage, a decline in seed vigour was indicated by an increase in the leaching of electrolytes from the seeds and reduced vital staining, although viability was still maintained at a level above the minimum standard (80%). At the same time, the decline in vigour of the seed lots in the warehouses did not occur at the same rate.
Furthermore, differences in the rate of deterioration, seen in increased leaching following storage for 6 weeks in 93% rh at 25°C or 1 day in 94% rh at 45°C were also seen in the laboratory, and a positive correlation between the leachate conductivities after the two treatments suggested that the relative responses of the seed lots were the same in both storage conditions.
The conductivity of 7 seed lots measured after 1 day in 94% rh at 45°C was also positively correlated with conductivity readings obtained after one year of commercial storage.
Thus the response of seed lots to storage in laboratory conditions was indicative of that following prolonged storage.
It is suggested that the decline in vigour during periods of warehouse storage is one factor responsible for the existence of some of the low vigour seed lots seen in peas.
Evaluation of the storage potential of seed lots by use of a laboratory storage test such as conductivity measurements of leachates following 1 day in 94% rh at 45°C, would enable prediction of seed storage potential to be made and consequently the selection of lots for storage that show a minimal decline in vigour.
Publication
Authors
Alison A. Powell, S. Matthews
Keywords
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