Performance of tropical forage grass (Brachiaria brizantha) dormant seeds under controlled storage
Brachiaria brizantha (palisade grass) is a tropical forage grass species showing a high dormancy level in freshly harvested seeds. The main aims of this research work were to analyse the release of seed dormancy under controlled deterioration as well as to estimate viability
constants, at moisture contents ranging from 3 to 20% and variable storage periods (from one hour to 1,550 days, at 40, 50 and 65°C). Twelve seed sub samples for each moisture content/temperature combination were sealed in aluminium foil packets and stored in incubators at those temperatures,
until completed survival curves were established. Germination tests were performed on intact and scarified (H2SO4, 15') seeds. The hazardous effect of the high storage temperatures seemed to be compensated by greater seed dormancy release, the best results being achieved
at 50°C and 40°C for intact and scarified seeds, respectively, not taking into account seed moisture content. Estimated viability constants to predict seed longevity were: K
E
= 6.488, 8.795; C
W
= 4.480, 4.852; C
H
= 0.04750, 0.02114; CQ = 0.001292, 0.000733 for intact and scarified seeds, respectively. The lowest moisture content limit for application of the viability equation at 65°C was 4.9%, unrelated to chemical scarification.
Document Type: Research Article
Publication date: 01 July 2007
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