IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jagris/v14y2024i8p1268-d1448291.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Germination and Vigor of Maize Seeds: Pilot-Scale Comparison of Low-Oxygen and Traditional Storage Methods

Author

Listed:
  • María Bernadette Abadía

    (IPADS Balcarce (INTA-CONICET), RN 226 km 73.5, Buenos Aires 7620, Argentina)

  • Luciana A. Castillo

    (Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química, PLAPIQUI (UNS-CONICET), Departamento de Ingeniería Química, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), Bahía Blanca 8000, Argentina)

  • Yanela N. Alonso

    (Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química, PLAPIQUI (UNS-CONICET), Departamento de Ingeniería Química, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), Bahía Blanca 8000, Argentina)

  • María Gloria Monterubbianesi

    (Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, RN 226 km 73.5, Balcarce 7620, Argentina)

  • Gisele Maciel

    (IPADS Balcarce (INTA-CONICET), RN 226 km 73.5, Buenos Aires 7620, Argentina)

  • Ricardo E. Bartosik

    (IPADS Balcarce (INTA-CONICET), RN 226 km 73.5, Buenos Aires 7620, Argentina)

Abstract

Seed quality declines during storage depending on relative humidity, temperature, and oxygen concentration. Low-oxygen atmospheres significantly enhanced the germination and vigor of seeds during storage in laboratory-scale experiments. Low-oxygen atmospheres include self-modified atmospheres, where gas composition changes due to microbial respiration and oxidative processes, as well as modified atmospheres, where gas composition is initially altered from an external source without further adjustments. However, the potential of low-oxygen atmospheres to preserve the quality of maize ( Zea mays ) seeds in bags of 25–50 kg capacity, like those employed by seed companies and small-scale farmers, remains underexplored, hindering a broader adoption of this storage technology. Our study assessed the feasibility of applying low-oxygen atmospheres for seed storage on the pilot scale, i.e., hermetic containers of 25 kg capacity made of polyethylene and polyamide, under controlled conditions. We first evaluated the ability of the hermetic containers to maintain low oxygen levels over time. Then, we compared the germination and vigor of seeds stored in the hermetic containers under modified and self-modified atmospheres with those stored in traditional poly-paper bags under normal atmospheric conditions. The seeds had 14% moisture content (wet basis) and were stored at 25 °C and 10 °C. Maintaining low oxygen levels in polyethylene–polyamide bags was feasible. Moreover, at 25 °C, modified and self-modified atmospheres maintained higher germination values (95.8% and 94.4%, respectively) compared to traditional storage (68.3%), and both were as effective as refrigeration (97.6%). However, refrigeration was better for preserving seed vigor, with radicle emergence values of 85.2% in self-modified atmospheres and 78.9% in modified atmospheres, compared to 65.0% and 61.2%, respectively, at 25 °C. In conclusion, the advantages of modified atmospheres observed in laboratory-scale studies are achievable on a larger scale with a proper container design, advancing the prospects for the practical application of this technology for the seed industry and small farmers.

Suggested Citation

  • María Bernadette Abadía & Luciana A. Castillo & Yanela N. Alonso & María Gloria Monterubbianesi & Gisele Maciel & Ricardo E. Bartosik, 2024. "Germination and Vigor of Maize Seeds: Pilot-Scale Comparison of Low-Oxygen and Traditional Storage Methods," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-14, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:14:y:2024:i:8:p:1268-:d:1448291
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/14/8/1268/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/14/8/1268/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Olaf Erenstein & Moti Jaleta & Kai Sonder & Khondoker Mottaleb & B.M. Prasanna, 2022. "Global maize production, consumption and trade: trends and R&D implications," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 14(5), pages 1295-1319, October.
    2. Ma. Cristine Concepcion D. Ignacio & Kurt A. Rosentrater & Dirk E. Maier, 2023. "Estimating Environmental and Economic Impacts of Hermetic Bag Storage Technology," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(20), pages 1-19, October.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Robert Czubaszek & Agnieszka Wysocka-Czubaszek & Wendelin Wichtmann & Grzegorz Zając & Piotr Banaszuk, 2023. "Common Reed and Maize Silage Co-Digestion as a Pathway towards Sustainable Biogas Production," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-25, January.
    2. Mirosław Wyszkowski & Natalia Kordala, 2024. "Effects of Humic Acids on Calorific Value and Chemical Composition of Maize Biomass in Iron-Contaminated Soil Phytostabilisation," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-19, April.
    3. Kamila Nowosad & Jan Bocianowski & Farzad Kianersi & Alireza Pour-Aboughadareh, 2023. "Analysis of Linkage on Interaction of Main Aspects (Genotype by Environment Interaction, Stability and Genetic Parameters) of 1000 Kernels in Maize ( Zea mays L.)," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-17, October.
    4. Yangjie Ren & Yitong Zhang & Shiyang Guo & Ben Wang & Siqi Wang & Wei Gao, 2023. "Pipe Cavitation Parameters Reveal Bubble Embolism Dynamics in Maize Xylem Vessels across Water Potential Gradients," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-17, September.
    5. Anna Barriviera & Diego Bosco & Sara Daniotti & Carlo Massimo Pozzi & Maria Elena Saija & Ilaria Re, 2023. "Assessing Farmers’ Willingness to Pay for Adopting Sustainable Corn Traits: A Choice Experiment in Italy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-13, September.
    6. Lekarkar, Katoria & Nkwasa, Albert & Villani, Lorenzo & van Griensven, Ann, 2024. "Localizing agricultural impacts of 21st century climate pathways in data scarce catchments: A case study of the Nyando catchment, Kenya," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 294(C).
    7. Buttinelli, Rebecca & Cortignani, Raffaele & Caracciolo, Francesco, 2024. "Irrigation water economic value and productivity: An econometric estimation for maize grain production in Italy," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 295(C).
    8. Charlotte Cautereels & Jolien Smets & Jonas De Saeger & Lloyd Cool & Yanmei Zhu & Anna Zimmermann & Jan Steensels & Anton Gorkovskiy & Thomas B. Jacobs & Kevin J. Verstrepen, 2024. "Orthogonal LoxPsym sites allow multiplexed site-specific recombination in prokaryotic and eukaryotic hosts," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-15, December.
    9. Agata Borowik & Jadwiga Wyszkowska & Magdalena Zaborowska & Jan Kucharski, 2024. "Soil Enzyme Response and Calorific Value of Zea mays Used for the Phytoremediation of Soils Contaminated with Diesel Oil," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-22, May.
    10. Qiu, Bingwen & Jian, Zeyu & Yang, Peng & Tang, Zhenghong & Zhu, Xiaolin & Duan, Mingjie & Yu, Qiangyi & Chen, Xuehong & Zhang, Miao & Tu, Ping & Xu, Weiming & Zhao, Zhiyuan, 2024. "Unveiling grain production patterns in China (2005–2020) towards targeted sustainable intensification," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 216(C).
    11. Meng Wang & Haiming Duan & Cheng Zhou & Li Yu & Xiangtao Meng & Wenjie Lu & Haibing Yu, 2024. "Synergistic Effects of Chemical Fungicides with Crude Extracts from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens to Control Northern Corn Leaf Blight," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-16, April.
    12. Odhiambo Alphonce Kasera & Phennie Morghan Osure & Bruno Charles Oloo & Owili Mathews Odhiambo & Francis Odhiambo Salu & Hemolike Omondi Oguna, 2024. "Disambiguating Maize Policy Failure in Kenya, 2013 – 2024: A Political Economy Perspective," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 8(7), pages 2581-2601, July.
    13. Rafał Januszkiewicz & Grzegorz Kulczycki & Mateusz Samoraj, 2023. "Foliar Fertilization of Crop Plants in Polish Agriculture," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-14, August.
    14. Péter Zagyi & Éva Horváth & Gyula Vasvári & Károly Simon & Adrienn Széles, 2024. "Effect of Split Basal Fertilisation and Top-Dressing on Relative Chlorophyll Content and Yield of Maize Hybrids," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-16, June.
    15. András Bence Szerb & Arnold Csonka & Imre Fertő, 2022. "Regional trade agreements, globalization, and global maize exports," Agricultural Economics, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 68(10), pages 371-379.
    16. Qu, Ziren & Luo, Ning & Guo, Jiameng & Xu, Jie & Wang, Pu & Meng, Qingfeng, 2024. "Enhancing sustainability in the new variety-based low emergy system for maize production by nitrogen optimization," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 199(C).
    17. Sergei Kharin & Zuzana Kapustova & Ivan Lichner, 2023. "Price transmission between maize and poultry product markets in the Visegrád Group countries: What is more nonlinear, egg or chicken?," Agricultural Economics, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 69(12), pages 510-522.
    18. José Luis Villalpando-Aguilar & Daniel Francisco Chi-Maas & Itzel López-Rosas & Victor Ángel Aquino-Luna & Jesús Arreola-Enríquez & Julia Cristel Alcudia-Pérez & Gilberto Matos-Pech & Roberto Carlos G, 2022. "Urban Agriculture as an Alternative for the Sustainable Production of Maize and Peanut," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-13, December.
    19. Gao, Jia & Liu, Ninggang & Wang, Xianqi & Niu, Zuoyuan & Liao, Qi & Ding, Risheng & Du, Taisheng & Kang, Shaozhong & Tong, Ling, 2024. "Maintaining grain number by reducing grain abortion is the key to improve water use efficiency of maize under deficit irrigation and salt stress," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 294(C).
    20. Arkadiusz Stępień & Katarzyna Wojtkowiak & Ewelina Kolankowska & Renata Pietrzak-Fiećko, 2024. "Corn Grain Fatty Acid Contents in Response to Organic Fertilisers from Meat Industry Waste," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-19, January.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:14:y:2024:i:8:p:1268-:d:1448291. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.