Loss of Certified Maize (<i>Zea mays</i>L.) and Cowpea (<i>Vigna unguiculata</i>(L.) Walp.) Seed Viability during Storage in a Sub-Saharan Region: Analysis of Environmental Factors

The objective of this study was to characterize environment factors involved in loss of seed viability during storage in open granaries. The temperature and relative humidity of the granary as well as the equilibrium moisture content of seeds were determined monthly. Their effects on the loss of viability of maize (Zea mays L.) and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) seeds were examined. The results showed that relative humidity levels > 65% associated with temperatures > 25°C (conditions in the open granary) do not guarantee safe storage of maize lots for a period of 9 to 12 months. Based on these data and the results of seed viability analysis, local environmental conditions in Gandajika (DR-Congo) and seed genetic background are the main factors for the rapid deterioration of seeds during storage. The germination rate correlated negatively with storage duration (-0.94) and temperature (-0.57) while it correlates positively with the relative humidity (0.58) for both lots of maize analyzed. The same trend was observed with the two-cowpea varieties studied (IT82D-889 and Diamant). Similar work using more varieties in other granaries is required to validate key factors involved in seed viability during storage in targeted regions.

The influence of ultra-low moisture content on the seed viability of rice in store

This paper deals with the influence of ultra-lowmoisture content and the rate of desiccation on rice seed viability and physiological property bydesiccating using four kinds of desiccants(phos-

Characteristics and Warning Indexes of Rice Seeds Viability Loss During Storage at 45℃ Constant Temperature

Seed aging characteristics of rice was investigated in this study. Seeds of 34 japonica rice (O-ryza sativa subsp. japonica) varieties were held at 451 constant temperature. Changes in seed viability and seed vigor during aging process were measured to study seed viability-losing characteristic and to determine warning index for seed viability loss. As a result, seed viability survival curves were obtained across different rice accessions at 45℃ constant temperature. The curves appeared to be contra-sigmoid survival curves. The loss of seed viability in the aging process consisted of two phases. The first phase took a long duration, in which the viability of vigorous seeds declined slowly. In the second phase, seed viability declined rapidly. It was obvious that seed viability declined inconsistently during storage. It also showed that seed germination was prolonged and the seedling was significantly weakened before the coming of the rapid declining phase of seed viability. These two parameters could be used to indicate seed quality during storage. The rate of compatibility of tests (RCT), coefficient of variation (CV), vigor of seedling, the day the seeds start to germinate could be used as warning indexes to indicate overall quality of a mass of accessions. These warning indexes could also be used in monitoring the viability of seeds stored in the seed genebank.

Recent advances in emerging techniques for non-destructive detection of seed viability: A review

Over the past decades,imaging and spectroscopy techniques have been developed rapidly with widespread applications in non-destructive agro-food quality determination.Seeds are one of themost fundamental elements of agriculture and forestry.Seed viability is of great significance in seed quality characteristics reflecting potential seed germination,and there is a great need for a quick and effective method to determine the germination condition and viability of seeds prior to cultivate,sale and plant.Some researches based on spectra and/or image processing and analysis have been explored in terms of the external and internal quality of a variety of seeds.Many attempts have been made in image segmentation and spectra correction methods to predict seed quality using various traditional and novel methods.This review focuses on the comparative introduction,development and applications of emerging techniques in the analysis of seed viability,in particular,near infrared spectroscopy,hyperspectral and multispectral imaging,Raman spectroscopy,infrared thermography,and soft X-ray imaging methods.The basic theories,principle components,relative chemometric processing,analytical methods and prediction accuracies are reported and compared.Additionally,on the foundation of the observed applications,the technical challenges and future outlook for these emerging techniques are also discussed.

Assessment of bone charcoal dusts of six species of mammal for the postharvest control of Callosobruchus maculatus Fabricius(Coleoptera:Chrysomelidae)infestations of cowpea seeds:can the charcoal dust affect seed viability in laboratory and in field?

Objectives:The possibility that bone charcoal dusts of some species of mammal will control the major insect pest of stored cowpea seeds and the implications on seed viability(after pest control process)were investigated in the laboratory at ambient temperature(30±3°C)and relative humidity(70±5%)and in field.Materials and Methods:Standard entomological and agronomical techniques were used.Results:The results showed that at 1.0%w/w dosage,the bone charcoal dusts of Ovis aries and Bos taurus were more effective than permethrin standard insecticide in killing adult Callosobruchus maculatus Fab.infesting cowpea seeds in storage.Bos taurus had a faster action speed than permethrin at 1.0%w/w.At 1.5%w/w of dust,all the species of mammal investigated deterred oviposition considerably in C.maculatus females,whereas only the bone charcoal dusts of O.aries and Sus scrofa were comparable with permethrin in suppressing adult emergence and seed damage;S.scrofa only was comparable with permethrin in reducing larval density.Bone charcoal dusts of O.aries and S.scrofa require chemical and olfactory analyses to know if they might have caused irritation to the insects and disrupted insect circadian rhythm,affecting behaviour and mating activities,adversely.The bone charcoal dusts of the six species of mammal at a highest test dose of 1.5%w/w allowed high seed viability in both laboratory and field.Conclusion:The study recommends the use of bone charcoal dusts of O.aries and S.scrofa at economical-and quality-favourable dose 1.5%w/w for managers seeking to control C.maculatus insect attacking cowpea seeds in storage.The transitive components of the bones,abrasion of the insect epicuticle lipid layer by the charcoal dust,and combustion-related toxic factors were responsible for the insecticidal activities of the bone charcoal dusts of the mammals.

Seed bank and regeneration dynamics of Emmenopterys henryi population on the western side of Wuyi Mountain,South China

Emmenopterys henryi Oliv. (Rubiaceae) is an endangered tree species that is native to China. The wild populations of E. henryi have declined rapidly because of its poor natural regeneration, but the actual regeneration processes are not yet understood. In field tracking surveys and experiments in the Wuyishan Nature Reserve in Southeast China to determine the most important stage that affects the regeneration process, seed bank characteristics, seed germination, and seedling growth dynamics were studied in the typical habitats of E. henryi, Phyllostachys pubescens and broad-leaved forests. Results showed that in both P. pubescens and broad-leaved forests, more than 70% of the E. henryi seeds were distributed in moss and litter layers, and few were found in the soil beneath them. However, seed germination in the soil layer was significantly higher than in the moss and litter layers. Seed density, overall seed quality, and germination rate in the broad-leaved forest were significantly higher than in P. pubescens forest. Seed germination was highest in the microsites around the edge of the crown projection area of E. henryi mother trees. The order of survival rate of the seedlings on different ground surfaces was soil > moss > litter. In both habitats, the average seed density was 24.9 seeds m(-2), and the total germination rate was less than 3.5 parts per thousand. However, seedlings developed from only 1% of the germinated seeds, indicating that the seed germination is the most important stage in the natural regeneration of E. henryi.

CELLULAR SUBSTANCE EXUDATION AND SEED VIGOUR

In this paper, seeds of pinus koraiensis which has a characteristic of deep dormancy were selected as an experiment material, and the relation of cellular substance exudation to seed vigour is discussed based on the dormant state, the different measuring parts and the imbibed state of seeds before testing, as well as on the respiration of embryo and endosperm. The major measured results arc as follows: (1) After soaking for 24h, the dry embryo conductivity of sccdlot L is greater that than of sccdlot H: (2) The substance exudation of dry embryo of sccdlot H is less than that of sccdlot L; (3) After seeds imbibed, the substance exudation of dormant embryo of sccdlot H is more than that of sccdlot L; (4) After germination hastening treatment, the substance exudation of H embryos is greater than that of L embryos; (5) After artificially accelerated ageing treatment, the embryo conductivity of imbibed seeds has a positive correlation with seed vigour.

Seed germination and seedling emergence of four tree species of southern China in response to acid rain

Acid rain has become a major concern due to increasing atmospheric pollution,particularly in China.We investigated whether acid rain inhibits the germination of seeds and subsequent emergence of seedling of four tree species from southern China:Cunninghamia lanceolata,Fokienia hodginisi,Pinus massoniana and Phoebe zhennan by simulating acid rain with pH of 2.5,3.5,4.5 and 5.5.We hypothesized that the inhibitory effect of acid rain on germination of seeds and emergence of seedling varies between species and the degree of acidity.A solution of 1 N H2SO4 and 1 N HNO 3 in the ratio of 10–1 was prepared and diluted to four pH levels,and seeds were supplied with solutions of these pH values and distilled water as control and tested for germination in a controlled growth chamber.The results revealed that simulated acid rain of pH 2.5 adversely affected the germination capacity of F.hodginisi and P.zhennan;while all acid solutions significantly increased germination of P.Massoniana;but had no effect on germination of C.Lanceolata seeds.Strong acid solution(pH of 2.5)adversely affected elongation of radicle and hypocotyl as well as fresh and dry weights of radicle and hypocotyl of tender seedlings.The result demonstrated that seedling emergence is more sensitive than seed germination to simulated acid rain,and germination of conifer species are less sensitive than broad leaved species to simulated acid rain.As a whole,acid rain of pH of 3.5 is the threshold level and acid rain below this value will have a detrimental effect on seed germination and seedling emergence.

The ecological role of dew in assisting seed germination of the annual desert plant species in a desert environment, northwestern China

It is important to understand the effects of dew events on non-mucilaginous seed germination of annual desert plant species during dry seasons, which is critical to maintaining long-term soil seed banks in a harsh desert environment. We hypothesize that dew deposition also assists in the non-mucilaginous seed germination of annual desert species. A common field dew treatment experiment was conducted in the Linze Inland River Basin Research Station to investigate the effects of dew deposition on the seed germination of four annual species, including Agriophyllum squarrosum, Corispermum mongoficum, Bassia dasyphylla and Halogeton arachnoideus. The results showed that the presence of dew significantly increased seed germination percentages and decreased the nonviable seed percentages of B. dasyphylla and H. arachnoideus, whereas there was no such trend for the seeds of C. mongolicum and A. squarrosum. The ecological effects of dew on the seed germination and viability of the annual desert plants were species specific. Although dew wetting is insufficient to cause seed germination, it may help in priming the seeds.

小麦种子在不同贮存条件下保存10年后生活力的差异

冬小麦农大139含水量为6.7%和11.8%。分别密封保存于室温和0～5℃冰箱。10年后,测定其发芽势,发芽率等指标,结果表明:①在室温条件下,含水量为11.8%的种子全部死亡,含水量为6.7%的种子有近50%的发芽率同保存前种子发芽率相比明显下降。②在0～5℃冰箱保存的种子,两种含水量均达到80%左右的发芽率,同保存前相比没有明显差别。统计分析表明,贮存温度及贮存温度和种子含水量的互作对贮存种子活力的影响达到极显著水平。

Insecticidal efficacy of three vegetable oils as post-harvest grain protectants of stored wheat against Rhyzopertha dominica （F.） （Coleoptera： Bostrychidae）

The lesser grain borer, Rhyzopertha dominica is a major insect pests of stored grain in the tropics. Vegetable oils （chamomile, sweet almond and coconut） at 2.5, 3.5, 5.0, 7.0 and 10.0 mL/kg were tested against Rhyzopertha dominica （F.） in wheat grain. All bioassays were conductr, d at 30℃ and 65% ＋ 2% RH. Treatments with vegetable oils at high dose （10.0 mL/kg） achieved over 95% control within 24 h of exposure to freshly treated grain, There was little difference between the three oils in their effect. Persistence of oils in grains was tested at short-term storage intervals （48, 72 and 96 h） and intermediate-term intervals （10, 20 and 30 days） after treatments. The activity of all products decreased with storage period. Seed viability was reduced by the high dose rate （10.0 mL/kg） of oil treatments. The potential use of vegetable oils as supplementary or alternative grain protectants against insect damage in traditional grain storage in developing countries is discussed.