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Viability of rape ( Brassica napus L.) seeds following selection on the basis of newly‐emerged radicles then subsequent drying and storage
Author(s) -
FINCHSAVAGE W. E.,
McKEE J. M. T.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
annals of applied biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.677
H-Index - 80
eISSN - 1744-7348
pISSN - 0003-4746
DOI - 10.1111/j.1744-7348.1989.tb03374.x
Subject(s) - germination , biology , radicle , water content , longevity , horticulture , relative humidity , humidity , brassica , moisture , recalcitrant seed , desiccation , agronomy , botany , chemistry , genetics , geotechnical engineering , physics , organic chemistry , engineering , thermodynamics
Summary Germinating rape seeds selected on the basis of newly‐emerged radicles (1 ± 0.5 mm) were dried to an equilibrium moisture content ( c . 11%) in air at 20°C and 80% relative humidity without loss of viability. Storage life of these low‐moisture‐content germinating (LMCG) seeds at 15°C was limited to 7 days before viability was significantly reduced. However, viability of LMCG seeds was maintained for 84 days in storage at ‐20°C. Longer periods in store reduced viability, but 96% of seeds still remained viable after 336 days at ‐ 20°C. Increasing periods of storage at ‐20°C reduced the subsequent seed longevity at 15°C, indicating a reduction in vigour during storage. Storage under reduced pressure or in a nitrogen atmosphere had little significant effect on seed longevity. Reduction of moisture content below 11% using vacuum drying at a range of temperatures reduced seed vigour.