Effect of Seed Storage Periods, Conditions and Materials on Germination of Some Soybean Seed Cultivars

Aims: This investigation aimed to study response of some soybean CVS, i.e. Giza 21, Giza 22, Giza 35, Giza 111 and Crawford to storage periods, i.e. 3, 6, 9 and 12 months, storage conditions, i.e. ambient conditions and refrigerator conditions at 10 ± 1ºC as well as storage materials, on germination characters.

Study Design: Treatments were arranged in factorial experimental in completely randomize design, consisted of totally 160 treatments combinations involving tow storage conditions, i.e. ambient and refrigerator conditions at 10 ± 1ºC, four different package materials, i.e. seed with cloth bags, seed with plastic bags, pods with cloth bags and pods with plastic bags. Four storage periods, i.e. 3, 6, 9 and 12 months and five of soybean CVS, i.e. Giza 21, Giza 22, Giza 35, Giza 111 and Crawford.

Place and Duration of Study: Laboratory experiment was conducted in Agronomy Department, Fac. of Agric. Mansoura Univ., Egypt during 2011 and 2012.

Methodology: Soybean CVS were harvested in October 2011, cleaned, then dried and processed for storage. Every three months, from a total 12 months of storage, germination characters were evaluated.

Results: Seed germination characters were decreased with increasing period of ageing. Giza 111 exceeded other CVS in energy of germination, emergence rate. Giza 21 cultivar exceeded other CVS in germination index. Giza 35 cultivar exceeded other CVS in final germination percentage. Storage under refrigerator conditions at 10 ± 1ºC surpassed under ambient conditions in final germination percentage, germination index, energy of germination, emergence rate. Energy of germination significantly affected by storage materials. Final germination percentage, germination index, energy of germination and emergence rate significantly affected by the varies interactions.

Conclusion: It could be concluded that storage Giza 111 cultivar under refrigerator conditions (10 ± 1ºC) of soybean seed with cloth bags for 3 months enhanced germination properties