Shahram Nowrouzieh, Elham Faghani, Ghorbanali Roshani,
Volume 10, Issue 2 (3-2024)
Abstract
Extended abstract
Introduction: Currently, in most countries around the world, cotton seeds are used in delinted form. The fuzzy cotton seed often lead to slower germination, increased susceptibility of seeds and seedlings to pests and diseases, and disrupts mechanized cotton planting. Delinted cotton seeds have numerous advantages, including the possibility of mechanized planting, reduced seed consumption per unit area, faster germination in the soil, and more rapid field emergence of seedlings. Furthermore, delinted seeds are usually free from pathogenic agents, and the seed quality is improved with the availability of gravity separation and removal of broken, lightweight, and hollow seeds. One of the challenges faced by cotton seed delinting factories in Iran that employ acid-based methods is the reduction in the seed germination of the delinted seeds, which poses a challenge to the continued operation of these factories. This research was conducted to investigate the reasons behind the reduction in the viability cotton seeds in a delinting factory, to examine the physiological and mechanical characteristics of seeds at various stages of delinting in the factory.
Materials and methods: Seed sampling was carried out in a delinting factory in two replications. Traits such as seed vigor, germination percentage, ion leakage, seed density and volume, seed aging, level of abrasion and damage to the seed coat, and seed rupture force were studied. Finally, the data were analyzed using SAS, SPSS, and JMP software.
Results: The test results showed that seed sampling from both replications of the factory before centrifuge had the lowest germination percentage, leaf formation percentage, primary root length, primary stem length, dry weight of primary root, and dry weight of primary stem. These traits indicate that during the centrifugation stage, the seeds sustain significant mechanical damage, leading to a reduction in their vigor. The percentage of breakage, ion leakage, ageing, volume and density of seeds in the first repetition showed that these seeds had a lower quality compared to the seeds related to the second repetition. Therefore, different delinting stages in the factory have decreased the seed vigor. As the percentage of breakage and ion leakage increases, the seed rupture force declines non-linearly. Based on these findings, it can be concluded that acid contact with the cotton seed and the centrifugation process caused more mechanical damage to the seeds, leading to a significant reduction in seed rupture force.
Conclusion: The accuracy of operations at all stages of delinting significantly impacts seed quality. The centrifugation stage, the temperature of the dryer cylinders, and the acid neutralization process require greater attention and monitoring. Therefore, it is necessary to adjust the duration or concentration of the acid used for delinting in the delinting factory to match the seed condition in order to minimize damage to the seeds.
Highlights:
- Delinting in the factory causes damage to the seeds, but proper management of temperature and acid concentration mitigates this damage.
- It is necessary to adjust the duration or concentration of the acid used for delinting in the factory to match the seed condition in order to minimize damage to the seeds.
- Managing the acid spray on the seeds and eliminating the centrifugation section in the delinting factory can prevent severe seed damage in this stage, and seed quality can be improved.
- Neutralizing the seeds at the end of the delinting process in the delinting factory results in an increase in the storage of delinted cottonseed.
