Plants densities, drying methods and seed quality of sesame

Author(s)

Alexandro Batista Ricci

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: Campinas, SP.
• Institution: Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Faculdade de Engenharia Agrícola
• Defense date: 1998-06-07

Examining board members

Doris Groth

• Advisor: Doris Groth

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of three plant densities (10,15 and 20 plants/meter of row) and of two drying methods (in the field and on paved floor) on IAC-China sesame seed yield, per area and per plant, as well as on seed quality as measured by physical purity, weight of 1,000 seeds, moisture content, germination and vigor (first count), soon afier harvest and drying, and at monthly intervals during eight months of storage. Harvest was made at the start of fruit dehiscense, followed by drying. After threshing and cleaning, seeds were placed inside kraft paper bags and maintained in uncontroled storage conditions at Campinas, State of São Paulo, Brazil. The experiment was a factorial in split plot randomized complete block design, with drying methods at sub-plots and storage periods in a sub-sub-plots, with four replications. Mean comparison were made by Tukey 5% and polynomial regression (only for yield). Results showed that the density of 20 plantsper meter of row resulted in higher yield per hectare while the density of 10 plant resulted in higher yield per plant. Seeds dried on paved floor exhibited physical purity superior to those dried in the field. Seeds produced in ali plant densities were similar in germination percentages while germination of seeds dried on the paved floor was superior to those dried in the field. The index of infected seedlings was higher in seeds dried in the field and the same for both dryinf methods as storage time progressed. The physiological quality of seeds was not significantlyaffected during the eight months of storage, which is a common period of time between harvest and the next planting season (AU)