African Journal of
Agricultural Research

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Agric. Res.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1991-637X
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJAR
  • Start Year: 2006
  • Published Articles: 6900

Full Length Research Paper

Methods for breaking seed dormancy of ryegrass during storage periods

Andrea Bicca Noguez Martins
  • Andrea Bicca Noguez Martins
  • Faculty of Agronomy Eliseu Maciel, Post Graduate Science and Seed Technology, Federal University of Pelotas, Capão do Leão Campus, P. O. Box 354, ZIP Code 960001-970, Pelotas, RS, Brazil.
  • Google Scholar
Aline Klug Radke
  • Aline Klug Radke
  • Faculty of Agronomy Eliseu Maciel, Post Graduate Science and Seed Technology, Federal University of Pelotas, Capão do Leão Campus, P. O. Box 354, ZIP Code 960001-970, Pelotas, RS, Brazil.
  • Google Scholar
Manoela Andrade Monteiro
  • Manoela Andrade Monteiro
  • Faculty of Agronomy Eliseu Maciel, Post Graduate Science and Seed Technology, Federal University of Pelotas, Capão do Leão Campus, P. O. Box 354, ZIP Code 960001-970, Pelotas, RS, Brazil.
  • Google Scholar
Leticia Winke Dias
  • Leticia Winke Dias
  • Faculty of Agronomy Eliseu Maciel, Post Graduate Science and Seed Technology, Federal University of Pelotas, Capão do Leão Campus, P. O. Box 354, ZIP Code 960001-970, Pelotas, RS, Brazil.
  • Google Scholar
Lilian Vanusa Madruga de Tunes
  • Lilian Vanusa Madruga de Tunes
  • Faculty of Agronomy Eliseu Maciel, Post Graduate Science and Seed Technology, Federal University of Pelotas, Capão do Leão Campus, P. O. Box 354, ZIP Code 960001-970, Pelotas, RS, Brazil.
  • Google Scholar
Geri Eduardo Meneghelo
  • Geri Eduardo Meneghelo
  • Faculty of Agronomy Eliseu Maciel, Post Graduate Science and Seed Technology, Federal University of Pelotas, Capão do Leão Campus, P. O. Box 354, ZIP Code 960001-970, Pelotas, RS, Brazil.
  • Google Scholar
Fernanda Da Motta Xavier
  • Fernanda Da Motta Xavier
  • Faculty of Agronomy Eliseu Maciel, Post Graduate Science and Seed Technology, Federal University of Pelotas, Capão do Leão Campus, P. O. Box 354, ZIP Code 960001-970, Pelotas, RS, Brazil.
  • Google Scholar
Andre Pich Brunes
  • Andre Pich Brunes
  • Faculty of Agronomy Eliseu Maciel, Post Graduate Science and Seed Technology, Federal University of Pelotas, Capão do Leão Campus, P. O. Box 354, ZIP Code 960001-970, Pelotas, RS, Brazil.
  • Google Scholar
Caroline Jacome Costa
  • Caroline Jacome Costa
  • Research Embrapa Temperate, Highway BR-392, Km 78, P. O. Box 403, Zip Code 96010-971, Pelotas, RS, Brazil.
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Andrea Mittelmann
  • Andrea Mittelmann
  • Research Embrapa Temperate, Highway BR-392, Km 78, P. O. Box 403, Zip Code 96010-971, Pelotas, RS, Brazil.
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  •  Received: 02 September 2016
  •  Accepted: 05 October 2016
  •  Published: 10 November 2016

Abstract

The presence of dormant seeds makes it difficult to evaluate physiological quality and requires the use of appropriate methods in order to break seed dormancy. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of different methods to break the dormancy of ryegrass seeds stored under environment conditions in different periods. Ryegrass seeds, BRS Ponteio cultivar, produced in two locations were used and evaluated after 60, 90, 120, 150 and 180 days of storage under environment conditions. Seeds were submitted to the following methods to break dormancy: sowing at 20 to 30°C without applying any method to break dormancy (control); pre-cooling (5°C) for 3 days + KNO3 followed by sowing at 15 to 25°C; pre-drying (45°C) for 96 h followed by sowing at 20-30°C; immersing the seeds in sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) at 0.5% for 24 h, followed by drying at 45°C for 6 h and sowing at 15 to 25°C. At 60 days after harvest, the most effective method was immersion of seeds in a NaClO solution followed by drying at 45°C. From 90 days after harvest, all methods were equally effective to break seed dormancy, except pre-drying (45°C) for 96 h, which negatively affected the physiological quality of seeds. There is a difference in the effectiveness of the methods employed to break the dormancy of ryegrass seeds depending on the type of post-harvest storage.

 

Key words: Lolium multiflorum, post-harvest storage, pre-cooling.