Tropentag, October 5 - 7, 2004 in Berlin "Rural Poverty Reduction through Research for Development and Transformation"

Mungbean Seed Longevity and Quality Influenced by Initial Seed Moisture Content and Storage Temperature

¹Chiang Mai University, Department of Agronomy, Thailand
²Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Institute of Agricultural Chemistry, Germany

Abstract

Mungbean seeds (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek) ev. cultivar Chainat 72 (CN 72) which were stored at various conditions. The treatment were: four initial seed moisture content of 7, 9, 11 and 13 percent and four storage temperatures of 15, 20, 25 degree Celsius and including room temperature (27-32 degree Celsius). Storage period was 18 weeks and seed quality assessments were investigated in every 3 weeks. This following parameters were recorded: standard germination test, vigour test by accelerated aging technique, seedling growth rate and electrical conductivity from seed exudates, tetrazolium test for viability, seed health testing, insect infestration, seed protein, seed carbohydrate analysis. The results, showed that in all conditions the percentages of germination and viability test remained above 94 percent and 96 percent respectively. Seed vigour by accelerated aging technique and seedling growth rate were decrease after longer term time of storage and vigour test by electrical conductivity showed the the increasing of seed exudated. Percentage of fungi infection increased after longer times of storage from 40 to 83 percent and found of most fungi infections were Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus niger. Protein (20.9 to 20.6 percent) and carbohydrate (62.5 to 62.1 percent) contents in all conditions tended to decrease but were not significant difference, insect has not been found.The results indicated that, initial seed moisture contents had influenced in seed of germination, vigour, viability and quality after storage more than storage temperatures and showed the relationship between seed moisture content and storage temperatures and their storage potential. This relationship can be use to apply for storage mungbean seed and used to predict viability and quality of mungbean seed during storage. The most oftimumof mungbean seed moisture content for safe storage is 7 percent and the best storage temperature is 15 degree Celsius.

Keywords: Seed moisture content, seed quality, storage, temperature

Contact Address: Siwaporn Pradidwong, Chiang Mai University, Department of Agronomy, Chiang Mai, Thailand, e-mail: roteesyahoo.com