A knowledge of the anatomy, physiology and biochemistry of flower seeds is essential for the harvesting of technology available to improve their germination performance. Barriers to germination at the time of sowing seeds include embryo immaturity, the impermeability of fruit and seed coats and the presence of chemical inhibitors. Some of these barriers may be removed or 'broken down' in time if the seeds are provided with the correct physical environment, but the germination performance of such seeds is usually non-uniform and unpredictable. Scarification, by physical or chemical means, improves the rate and uniformity of germination of some flower seeds, e.g. Freesia and Pelargonium. Other pre-sowing seed treatments, e.g. 'priming' in osmotic solutions, high temperatures and plant growth regulators, may permit germination to a certain stage of the process or promote more uniform germination in a batch of seeds. The significance of seed technology to the commercial grower is the potential for improved programming of flower crops through precision sowing and improved seedling emergence.

The humic acid fertilizer made the chemical and physical characteristics of soil better, and the effect of fertilizer increased as follows; the absorption ratio as to 7.7% and the phosphorus fertilizer 20% higher. When the rice seed is treated, and the rice seedling bed applied by the humic acid fertilizer, the germination rate is increased to 4-9% higher, and the seedling gets strong to grow, by help of the action of growth acceleration

The humic acid fertilizer made the chemical and physical characteristics of soil better, and the effect of fertilizer increased as follows; the absorption ratio as to 7.7% and the phosphorus fertilizer 20% higher. When the rice seed is treated, and the rice seedling bed applied by the humic acid fertilizer, the germination rate is increased to 4-9% higher, and the seedling gets strong to grow, by help of the action of growth acceleration.

Two experiments using split plot in CRD [Complete Randomized Design] were conducted to evaluate the germinability and viability of six varieties of forage legumes. The physical treatments consisted of sand papering, soaking in hot water and oven-heating at varying temperatures and durations. Chemical treatments involved the use of H2SO4 and HNO3 at varying durations of exposures. Result showed that sand papering was the most effective in initiating germination in Centrocema and Cv Archer. Also, soaking in hot water at 55 deg C remarkably increased the germinability of Cv Archer. Cook was more responsive to soaking at 55 deg C and oven heating at 80 deg C. Khonkaen on the other hand, proved to have higher germinability when the seeds were soaked in hot water at either 55 deg C or 80 deg C. Germinability of Seca and Verano was relatively low at all kinds of physical treatments. Likewise, percent hard seeds were markedly reduced by sandpapering in Centrocema and Cv Archer while soaking at 55 deg C and oven-heating reduced the percent hard seeds in Cook. Percent hard seeds in Khonkaen, Seca and Verano were neither reduced or increased.

The generalized drying equation is developed by studying the characteristics of rapeseed for drying air temperature throughout a range of 30-60° C, an airflow range of 0.21 to 0.53 m³(s m²)⁻¹ and an initial moisture content range of 14 to 25% (d.b.). The low-temperature Morey equilibrium drying model is modified using a generalized drying equation which is employed to analyse natural, supplemental and heated air drying. The feasibility of natural air drying of oilseed rape is evaluated employing the modified equilibrium drying model. The two types of strategies of continuous fan and fan on when RH≤70% are used with both the hourly data for the years of 1968, 1971 and 1974 and average hourly data for 1960 to 1980. Complete drying down to 10% moisture content (w.b.) is achieved for rapeseed of up to 18% (d.b.) using all the airflow rates, initial moisture contents and of environmental data years. It has been shown that substantial energy saving is possible by using the strategy of switching the fan on when RH≤70%. It is observed that the average hourly data can be used if the real hourly data are not available. The modelling of a single cover solar heat collector to accept the hourly ambient and radiation data to simulate the performance and predict the output is presented. The algorithm based on the 24-hour temperature rise required is developed to match the size of the collector to drying load. The feasibility of achieving complete drying using these models at the airflow rate of 180 m³(h m²)⁻¹ is also presented using historical hourly data for the harvesting seasons of 1968, 1971 and 1974. It has been shown that the amount of energy saved and the probability of achieving complete drying down to the safe storage moisture content of 10% (w.b.) are increased by employing the strategy of fan on when RH≤70% in solar assisted ambient air drying. The extra drying potential available in the ambient air when RH≤70% is used for energy saving when the solar collector is not operating. The effect of drying on the physical properties and resistance to airflow are investigated for the moisture content range of 6.46 to 19.63% (d.b.). The relationships between the physical properties and the moisture content are presented. Drying air temperatures of up to 60° C have been shown to have no effect on the germination capacity of rapeseed at moisture contents of up to 24.98% (d.b.).

This paper had the objective to collect information concerning the effects of hand picking, electric color sorting and fungicide treatment on the quality of peanut seeds. The peanut seed were processed in a sheller with vibratory circular screen, following the seeds was classified on the 22/64" screen. Then the seeds passed through a gravity table, were the heaviest ones were separated to be used in the differents treatments. The treatments were the following: 1. the original material (check), 2. material submitted to one electric sorting, 3. material submitted to two electric sorting, 4. hand picking by 8 persons, 5. hand picking by 4 persons followed by an electric sorting, 6. material rejected by electric sorting. All the treatments were derived in two parcels and one of each was treated with the fungicide thiran (2 g.a.i. per kg of seeds). The results have indicated that the seeds rejected by the electric sorting (seeds with color was lighter or darker than the characteristic color of the cultivar, and seeds with damage tegument with exposed embryo) had the lowest physical (purity analysis and presence of seeds with damage tegument) physiological (germination test, acelered aging and emergence of seedling in the sand and in the field) and health (seed health) qualities. However the hand picking or the electric sorting methods improved only the physical quality. The treatment using fungicide improve the physiological and health qualities of the seeds. | Este trabalho foi conduzido com o objetivo de estudar o efeito da escolha manual, da seleção eletrônica pela cor e do tratamento fungicida sobre a qualidade de sementes de amendoim (Arachis hypogaea L.). O lote, após o descascamento, limpeza, classificação em peneira 22/64 de polegada e separação da porção mais pesada obtida pelo processamento em mesa gravitacional foi submetido aos seguintes tratamentos: 1. material original (testemunha), 2. material submetido a uma seleção eletrônica, 3. material submetido a duas seleções eletrônicas, 4. material submetido a três seleções eletrônicas, 5. escolha manual por oito pessoas, 6. escolha manual por quatro pessoas seguida de uma seleção eletrônica, 7. material descartado pela selecionadora eletrônica. Todos os tratamentos foram divididos em duas partes e uma delas foi tratada com o fungicida thiran, (2 g.i.a por kg de sementes). Para avaliar a qualidade das sementes foram conduzidos os seguintes testes: análise de pureza física, exame de sementes com tegumento danificado, germinarão, envelhecimento acelerado, emergência em areia, emergência em campo e exame de sanidade das sementes. Conclui-se que as sementes descartadas pela sele cionadora eletrônica, composta predominantemente de sementes de amendoim de coloração mais clara e mais escura que a cor característica do cultivar e de sementes com tegumento danificado expondo o embrião foram de menor qualidade física, fisiológica e sanitária, entretanto, a remoção destes materiais através da escolha manual e/ou seleção eletrônica melhorou apenas a qualidade física, não alterou a qualidade fisiológica e sanitaria do lote de sementes. O tratamento fungicida proporcionou melhoria na qualidade fisiológica e sanitária das sementes e exerceu efeito protetivo no momento da semeadura.