Performance evaluation of a flatbed maize dryer with a biomass heat source

The technical performance of a 3-tonne capacity flatbed grain dryer was assessed based on its drying rate and drying efficiency. In addition, the quality of maize grains dried in the drying system was investigated through stress-crack analysis and germination test. Maize grains at an initial moisture content of 18.4% ± 0.1% (wb) were dried to a safe moisture content of 13.3% ± 0.2% (wb) in 5 hours, resulting in a drying rate of 1.02%/h at a drying efficiency of 67.35%. The average temperature observed in the plenum (55.8°C±1.5°C) was about twice higher than the ambient temperature during the drying period. The use of the flatbed dryer did not have any adverse effect on the viability of grains dried with a stress-crack index of 75 and percentage germination of 90%. This study demonstrated the viability of using the flatbed biomass-assisted dryer for drying maize and can reduce post-harvest losses of maize at the smallholder level. Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. Tech. 11(2): 37-41, Dec 2021

Control of Microdochium albescens in pre-germinated and dryland rice seeds

ABSTRACT: The fungus Microdochium albescens can interfere in the germination of seeds and in the death of rice seedlings; however, there is not technical indication for its control by seed treatment. This research evaluated the efficiency of fungicides in the treatment of pre-germinated and dryland rice seeds in the control of M. albescens. Seeds of the cultivars, Epagri 109, SCS116 Satoru, SCS121 CL and SCS122 Miura were treated with the following fungicides (g a.i./100 kg of seeds): fluazinam + thiophanate methyl (9.45 + 63), pyraclostrobin + thiophanate methyl (5 + 45), carboxin + thiram (60 + 60), metalaxyl-M + thiabendazole + fludioxonil (3 + 22.5 + 3.75), carbendazim + thiram (45 + 105), carbendazim (45). Seeds without fungicide treatment constituted the control. The treated seeds were sown in potato-sucrose-agar (PSA) culture medium and incubated at 25 ± 2 °C and photoperiod of 12 hours for 14 days. Treated seeds were also submitted to the germination test. Fluazinam + thiophanate methyl and metalaxyl-M + thiabendazole + fludioxonil showed greater control of M. albescens, not differing statistically between them, in the five cultivars and in the two cultivation systems. The tested fungicides provided seed germination above 90% in the four cultivars.

Improving the method for determining the physiological and sanitary potential of Gherkin seeds

Gherkin seeds usually show irregular physiological quality. Seed production requires fast and reliable tests to evaluate seed quality. Germination test is considered a recognized analysis method; however, seed technology has pursuit the improvement of vigor tests aiming the evaluation of seed’s physiological potential. Thus, the objective of this work was to evaluate procedures to perform the test of accelerated aging and determine the physiological and sanitary potential of gherkin seeds. Four seed lots of cultivar Liso Calcuta were used in the study. To evaluate the initial physiological quality the water content was determined and germination and emergence tests, as well as indices of germination speed and emergence speed were used. The accelerated aging test was performed as traditionally and with saturated saline solution, with 48, 72 and 96 hours, at temperatures of 41oC and 45oC. After aging, the water content was determined, and seeds’ germination and sanity tests were performed. The experiment was set under a completely random design in factorial 4x3x2 (lots x aging periods x temperatures). The standard accelerated aging test and the test with saturated saline solution at 41oC for 96 hours were efficient to evaluate the vigor of gherkin seeds. Saturated saline solution provides uniform water absorption and deterioration in gherkin seeds, allowing to discriminate seed lots in different vigor levels. The salinity test after accelerated aging with saline solution reduces the incidence of some fungi.

MALTE DE VARIEDADES DE AMARANTO

Objetivou-se obter e avaliar o malte de amaranto, das espécies Amaranthus cruentus, com as variedades BRS Alegria e Verde, e Amaranthus caudatus, com a variedade Inca, produzidas no cerrado mato-grossense. Foi realizado teste de germinação com alternância no fotoperíodo. A qualidade do malte produzido foi avaliada pela análise do poder diastático e o rendimento. Observou-se, pela análise de fotoblastismo, que a variedade verde é fotoblástica neutra e BRS Alegria e Inca são pouco tolerantes à luz constante. O poder diastático, medido pelo índice WK variou em função da temperatura e variedades sendo que a variedade Inca teve maior rendimento e poder diastático (187,4 WK) à temperatura de 25 °C; a temperatura de 25 °C produziu maltes com maior poder diastático, da ordem de 168,4 WK; A variedade BRS Alegria teve menor poder diastático, sendo menos indicada para a produção de malte para fins cervejeiros. Os resultados foram satisfatórios para a produção de bebidas lácteas maltadas, no entanto, para fins cervejeiros, novos ensaios de maltagem devam ser conduzidos, na tentativa de elevar o poder diastático do malte deste pseudocereal para valores próximos do mínimo recomendado para este fim, que é de 220 WK. Palavras-chave: Amaranthus cruentus; Amaranthus caudatus; BRS Alegria; fotoblastismo; poder diastático. Amaranth varieties malt ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to obtain and evaluate malt amaranth, of the species Amaranthus cruentus, with BRS Alegria and Verde varieties, and Amaranthus caudatus, with Inca variety. Germination test was performed with alternating photoperiod. The quality of the malt produced was evaluated by analyzing the diastatic power and the yield. It was observed, by the analysis of photoblastism, that the Verde variety is photoblastic neutral and BRS Alegria and Inca are poorly tolerant to constant light. Diastatic power, measured by the WK index, varied as a function of temperature and varieties, with the Inca variety having higher yields and diastatic power (187.4 WK) at a temperature of 25 °C; the temperature of 25 °C produced malts with greater diastatic power, in the order of 168.4 WK; The BRS-Alegria variety had lesser diastatic power, being less suitable for the production of malt for brewing purposes. The results were satisfactory for the production of malted dairy beverages, however, for brewing purposes, new malting tests should be conducted, in an attempt to raise the diastatic power of the malt of this pseudocereal to values ​​close to the minimum recommended for this purpose, which is 220 WK. Keywords: Amaranthus cruentus; Amaranthus caudatus; BRS Alegria; photoblastism; diastatic power.

ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY AND ETHANOL RELEASE TO ASSESS RED RICE SEED VIGOR1

ABSTRACT To evaluate seed vigor, electrical conductivity and ethanol tests are fast and efficient methodologies. They have the potential to be used in several species, such as red rice. However, there are no protocols or information about their efficiency. Thus, the objective was to evaluate the efficiency, and define parameters of execution for electrical conductivity and ethanol tests, to evaluate the vigor of red rice seeds. The study was conducted using four lots of ‘BRS 901’ red rice, which was subjected to a germination test, as well as first count, accelerated aging, and field seedling emergence tests. The electrical conductivity test was performed with 25, 50, and 100 seeds soaked in 50 mL and 75 mL of water, at 25 °C and 30 °C, for 3, 6, 20, and 24 hours, respectively. The ethanol test was performed with 50 and 100 seeds soaked in a volume of water equivalent to 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, and 3.0× the mass of the seed sample. To assess the vigor of red rice seeds, the electrical conductivity test is an efficient method when conducted with 50 seeds soaked in 50 mL of water at 25 °C for 20 hours. Meanwhile, the ethanol test is most effective when performed with 50 seeds, in a volume of water that is 2.5× the mass of the sample, at 40 °C for 24 hours.

Fungal and seed treatment interference in the viability of coriander seeds

ABSTRACT The determination of the sanitary quality is important to diagnose if the commercialized lots are free of pathogens and to make a decision about the need for seed treatment. The objective was to evaluate the interference of fungi associated with coriander seed lots in their physiological performance and the effect of seed treatment with the fungicide Metalaxyl-m + Fludioxonil. The study was carried out in two steps. In experiment I, the physiological potential and sanitary characterization of 18 coriander seed lots were evaluated, using the tests, water content, tetrazolium test and health test. In experiment II, we evaluated the physiological performance of coriander seeds with and without fungicide treatment using the first count and germination test. Coriander seed lots showed high physiological potential, however, not all lots expressed their maximum potential in the germination test without treatment, due to the negative effect of fungi associated with seeds, mainly A. dauci and in association with A. alternata. There was an improvement in the physiological performance of coriander seeds treated with Metalaxyl-m + Fludioxonil fungicide.

Can Wheat Germination Test Be Used to Predict Pregnancy in Ewes?

Several invasive diagnosis methods to predict pregnancy in humans and animals were used in the past. Since Antiquity, grains germination test was used to predict more safely the pregnancy in women in order to avoid the possibility of miscarriage. The abscisic acid is a component of pregnant females’ urine that prevents germination of grains. Considering this principle, 20 samples of urine were collected from 10 pregnant ewes and 10 from non-pregnant animals. After urinalysis, 15 ml urine sample was added to 20 grains of wheat in a Petri dish, followed by a dilution of 1:4 with distilled water. Only water has been added in the control sample. There were performed duplicates for each animal. For 10 days, all plates were kept in a constant environmental temperature (22°C) and humidity (42%). Statistical analysis revealed that after 5 and 10 days, wheat grains belonging to pregnant ewes were less germinated, and values regarding shoot length were lower than those from the control group. Even if the number of samples is small, it can be concluded that wheat germination test can be used to predict pregnancy in ewes.

Alternative methodology for the germination test in chemically treated corn hybrid seeds

The objective of this work was to identify the most suitable conditions for the evaluation of the germination test in corn seeds through the use of different substrates. Two tests were carried out for the development of the work. In test 1, the hybrid Morgan 30A37 PWV was used in a factorial scheme of 5 substrates with 8 chemical treatments. The seeds were treated industrially with the following insecticides: Inside FS, Inside FS + Maestro FS, Maestro FS, Poncho, Inside FS + BioCoat Corn, Inside FS + Maestro FS + BioCoat Corn and Maestro FS + BioCoat Corn. For test 2, the hybrid used was the FS533 PWV in a factorial scheme of 5 substrates and 5 treatments, in which the seeds received the industrial treatment with the insecticides: Inside FS, Inside FS + Maestro FS, Maestro FS and Poncho. Both tests were submitted to two temperatures (20°C and 25°C) and five substrates (germitest® paper; germitest® paper + sand; germitest® paper + soil; germitest® paper + coal and brown paper). The most suitable substrates for installing the germination test in chemically treated corn seeds were brown pepper and germitest® + charcoal. And the temperature of 20°C is the one that allows the most uniform and rapid development of normal seedlings in the germination test in treated hybrid corn seeds.

Studies on Seed Dormancy Breaking in Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) Variety Poinsett

Experiments were carried out to study the effect of chemicals in breaking the dormancy of cucumber. The study was conducted at the Department of Vegetable Science, Horticultural College and Research Institute, Coimbatore during 2017-2018. The seeds of cucumber variety Poinsett were treated with various chemicals immediately after harvest to standardize the best dormancy breaking treatment. The design of the experiment was Factorial Randomised Block Design with two replications. The seeds were treated with the chemicals for 12 hrs and 24 hours duration. The germination test was conducted. Observations on seed and seedling quality parameters viz., speed of germination, and germination percent, vigor index I and vigor index II were recorded. At 12 hours duration, the highest speed of germination (23.29) was recorded in T2 (GA3150 ppm) whereas the highest germination percentage (92) was recorded in T8 (Ethrel150 ppm). At 24 hours duration, the highest speed of germination (30.77) and the highest germination percentage (86) was observed in T12 (KNO3500 ppm). At 12 hours duration, the highest Vigor Index I (2800.16) was recorded in T9 (Ethrel 500 ppm) while the vigor Index II was the highest (12.19) in T8 (Ethrel150 ppm). At 24 hours duration, the highest Vigor Index I (2349.28) was observed in T10 (Ethrel 1000 ppm) while the vigor Index II was the highest (14.066) in T11 (KNO3150 ppm).