Development of suitable postharvest processing and storage of F1 rice hybrid seed and its product

Maintaining the seed vigor and its viability during storage is a matter of concern in Hybrid rice production. Although the main aim of the seed storage is to keep its quality, improper management could cause the seed to become damage during storage. In order to determine suitable storage condition for hybrid rice seed (F1), a factorial experiment in completely randomized design was used. Four selected factors were seed moisture content, seed halogenations treatment, type of package and storage duration. In addition, a factorial experiment in completely randomized design with two factors (drying air temperature and grain final moisture content) was used to determine proper drying condition for hybrid rice paddy. The results showed that the majority of the hybrid rice seed samples that were stored in the second type of package (polyethelene and common type of package) and the third type (common type of package and plastic container) without adding halogen had acceptable germination percentage (85%). In addition, storability of hybrid rice seed (F1) with moisture content of 8 9% and using the second type of package without adding halogen improved properly during storage. Seed vigor was almost the same for IR 426/16 IR and IR 58025 B lines. Generally, with the exception of the treatment without drying, the second type package and without adding any halogen, seed vigor increased for all treatments pertaining to the second and third type package. The results revealed that drying of hybrid rice seed to moisture content of 8-9% at drying air temperature 37 2 C and put it inside a double layer plastic bag (polyethylene and common type bag) can help to keep the seed germination and vigor for 3 months properly. In addition, drying air temperature of 37-41 2 C and FMC of 9-10% can be recommended for drying of hybrid rice paddy. Key word: Hybrid rice seed, seed vigor, germination, packaging, halogenation, drying and storage