Iranian Journal of Seed Research

Extended Abstract
Introduction: Priming is one of the most commonly used seed enhancement techniques. Events such as increased synthesis of nucleic acids, activation of repair processes, increased respiratory activity, and improved antioxidant capacity during priming lead to advanced metabolism in seeds. The most important effects of priming include increased percentage, speed and uniformity of germination and emergence. However, the longevity of primed seeds in storage is the major concern for researchers as it restricts widespread use of this technique. Some researchers believe that priming reduces the storage capacity of seeds, while others have reported increased seed shelf life after using priming treatments. Therefore, this study sought to investigate the effects of priming on the storage capacity of the seeds of canola cultivars under different storage conditions.
Material and Methods: In this study, the effects of priming on the shelf life of seeds of three canola cultivars including Dk-xpower, Traper and Hayola50 were investigated. For this purpose, the seeds were first treated with hydropriming and osmopriming methods. Then primed and control seeds with 6, 9, 12 and 15% moisture content were stored for 8 months at 15, 25, 35 and 45 °C. Sampling from different seed treatments was carried out at intervals of 1 to 30 days to assess germination. Finally, by fitting a three-parameter logistic model to cumulative germination data versus the day after storage, the time to germination loss to 50% was calculated and used to compare seed storage behavior between the treatments.
Results: The results showed that the storage behavior of canola seed varies greatly depending on the cultivar, and each cultivar showed a distinct behavior. Priming effects on the shelf life of seeds were different depending on the storage conditions, cultivars and also the priming methods. Comparison of the effects of priming on the seeds’ shelf life under different storage conditions showed that priming treatments were more efficient under higher seed moisture content and storage temperatures than those with lower seed moisture content and storage temperatures. In addition, priming treatments in Dk-xpower cultivar often increased the seeds’ shelf life. However, in the Traper and Hayola 50 cultivars, hydropriming often improved the seeds’ shelf life, and in contrast to osmopriming, it led to a decrease in the shelf life of the seeds.
Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, it was shown that priming effects on canola seed viability can be a function of various factors such as cultivar, storage conditions, and also the type of priming treatment. Moreover, in this study, hydropriming often increased seed longevity whereas osmopriming often increased the deterioration rate and reduced seed longevity.
 
 
Highlights:

1. Seed storage behavior of canola cultivars was compared under natural storage conditions.
2. Priming effects on seed longevity of canola cultivars was investigated under different storage conditions.

Extended Abstract
Introduction: Seeds, like other materials, are hygroscopic and exchange moisture with their surroundings. The changes in the moisture of seeds during storage depend on their hygroscopic nature and this feature plays an important role in determining the seed quality and longevity. Furthermore, studying the hygroscopic characteristics if seeds can be useful in seed storage studies as well as in commercial applications such as drying and seeds processing. Therefore, in this study, the relationship between seed moisture content and relative humidity in seed of rapeseed cultivars was studied.
Material and Methods: In this study, the relationship between the ambient relative humidity and seed moisture content of three rapeseed cultivars at 10, 20 and 30 °C was investigated using hygroscopic equilibrium curves. Therefore, water desorption and absorption curves were studied separately. Water absorption and desorption curves were obtained by drying the seeds at 1% relative humidity and seed hydration at 100% relative humidity, respectively, followed by transferring the seeds to different relative humidities at different temperatures and finally determining the equilibrium moisture content of the seeds. It should be noted that glycerol and sulfuric acid solutions were used to creation different relative humidity. Finally, the relationship between seeds moisture content against the relative humidity was quantified by fitting the D’Arcy-Watt equation.
Results: The results indicated that the seeds moisture content varied in cultivars and temperatures at different relative humidities. Also, there was a difference between water desorption and absorption curves in all cultivars and temperatures; desorption curves were generally higher than water absorption curves. The greatest difference among the cultivars regarding seed moisture content was observed at 100% relative humidity, and this difference was less severe at lower relative humidities. Also, the highest seed moisture content of rapeseed cultivars was observed at 20 °C and 100% relative humidity, and the lowest seed moisture content was recorded at 30 °C and 1% relative humidity.
Conclusions: According to the results, it was found that the relationship between seed moisture content and relative humidity followed a sigmoidal function, and this relationship would also vary depending on cultivar and temperature. There was also a difference between the adsorption and desorption curves, which is called "hysteresis", and showed that the seed moisture content at a constant relative humidity was generally higher in the state of dehydration compared with that in the state of hydration. Due to this event, desorption curve is situated higher than the absorption curve.

Highlights:

1. Response to hygroscopic equilibrium curves in seeds of different rapeseed cultivars was compared.
2. Sulfuric acid and glycerol solutions were used to create different relative humidity.