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Polymers as Moisture Barriers to Maintain Seed Quality 1
Author(s) -
West S. H.,
Loftin S. K.,
Wahl M.,
Batich C. D.,
Beatty C. L.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
crop science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.76
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1435-0653
pISSN - 0011-183X
DOI - 10.2135/cropsci1985.0011183x002500060010x
Subject(s) - germination , relative humidity , moisture , polymer , humidity , biology , glycine , horticulture , desiccation , agronomy , materials science , botany , composite material , biochemistry , physics , amino acid , thermodynamics
Soybean [ Glycine max (L.)] seed coats readily permit entry moisture and fungi which cause seed deterioration. The seed deterioration process is enhanced by high temperature and high humidity storage conditions. Synthetic coats, which restrict water entry, may prevent deterioration. Soybean seeds were coated with several types of polymers to determine the influence of the polymer on water uptake and on maintaining seed quality. One polymer, poly(vinylidene chloride), was found to reduce water uptake from a 100% relative humidity environment but to increase water uptake from standard germination conditions. These seeds resisted the stress caused by accelerated aging and had less fungal growth than seeds without the synthetic coat. The polymer did not inhibit germination.