Physiological and sanitary quality of safflower seeds with different storage periods

• Published in: Comunicata Scientiae 2023-01, Vol.14, p.1-9
• Main Authors: Menegaes, Janine Farias, Nunes, Ubirajara Russi, Backes, Fernanda Alice Antonello Londero, Swarowsky, Alexandre, Florin, Tatiana Tasquetto, Franzen, Felipe de Lima
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adaptability; Agricultural economics; Carthamus tinctorius; Electrical conductivity; Electrical resistivity; Emergence; Germination; Harvesting; Humidity; Laboratories; Moisture content; Ornamentation; Physiology; Plant sciences; Seedlings; Seeds; Storage
• ISSN: 2179-9079; 2177-5133
• DOI: 10.14295/CS.v14.3953

The safflower crop (Carthamus fincforius L.) is of agro-economic potential due to its wide range of uses, from ornamentation to oil extraction, with good adaptability to cultivation throughout Brazil. However, this crop still faces challenges regarding the quality of its seeds, as there is a high susceptibility to the attack by phytogenes. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the physiological and sanitary quality of safflower seeds submitted to different storage periods. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design, 4x7 (seeds grown in the 2017/2018 harvest: sown in winter and spring 2017, and summer and autumn 2018, and seed storage periods: 0; 6; 12; 18; 24; 30 and 36 sequential months, counted from the harvest dates), with four replications. The quality of seeds was evaluated through the following tests: germination, electrical conductivity, dry mass and seedling length, field emergence and sanity. It was observed that the different safflower seed lots were sensitive to a prolonged storage period, with reduction in their physiological potential, especially in the percentage of germination and seedling emergence, and an increased incidence of harmful phytopathogens on these seeds. Thus, it is recommended a period of up to 12 months to obtain the conservation of safflower seeds.