Skip to main content
Springer Nature Link
Log in

Storage Environment and the Control of Viability

  • Chapter
Viability of Seeds

Abstract

It has long been known that the major factors which influence the longevity of seeds in storage are temperature, moisture content and oxygen pressure (Owen, 1956; Barton, 1961; James, 1967). There have been a multitude of empirical investigations on the effects of temperature and moisture content on the viability period of seeds. In the vast majority of cases it has been shown that the lower the temperature and the lower the moisture content the longer the period of viability. It would be unnecessary, and in any case impossible, to attempt to catalogue all the publications substantiating this statement but some of the more comprehensive recent investigations on a wide variety of species include Anon. (1954) Boswell, Toole, Toole and Fisher (1940), Brett (1953), Gane (1948), Toole, Toole and Gorman (1948), Ching, Parker and Hill (1959). Rather less work has been done on the effects of oxygen and some of the earlier work was conflicting (Owen, 1956; Roberts, 1961b; Touzard, 1961). Nevertheless, it can now be said that for most species, the higher the oxygen pressure, the shorter the period of viability (Roberts, Abdalla and Owen, 1967; Roberts and Abdalla, 1968).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References to Chapter 2

  • Allcock, H. J., Jones, J. R., and Michel, J. G. L., 1962. The Nomogram. 5th edit. Pitman, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anon., 1954. The preservation of viability and vigour in vegetable seed. Asgrow Monograph No. 2. Asgrow Seed Co., New Haven, Conn.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anthanakrishna Rao, P. N., 1959. A brief review of the results obtained at the Paddy Breeding Station, Mangalore. Mysore agric. J., 34, 42–48.

    Google Scholar 

  • Aufhammer, G., and Simon, U., 1957. Die Samen landwirtshaftlicher Kultur pflanzen im Grundstein des chemaligen Nürnberger Stadttheaters and ihre Keimfähigkeit. Z. Acker-u PfiBau., 103, 454–72.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bacchi, O., 1955. Secca da semente de cafe ao sol. Bragantia, 14, 225–36.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bacchi, O., 1956. Novos ensaios sôbre a seca da semente de cafe ao sol. Bragantia, 15, 83–91.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barton, L. V., 1943. The storage of citrus seeds. Contr. Boyce Thompson Inst., 13, 47–55.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barton, L. V., 1961. Seed Preservation and Longevity. Leonard Hill, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barton, L. V., 1965. Viability of seeds of Theobroma cacaoL. Contrib. Boyce Thompson Inst., 23, 109–22.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barton, L. V., 1966. Effects of temperature and moisture on viability of stored lettuce, onion, and tomato seeds. Contr. Boyce Thompson Inst., 23, 285–90.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bass, L. N., 1965. Effect of maturity, drying rate and storage conditions on longevity of Kentucky bluegrass seed. Proc. Ass. off. Seed Analysts N. Am., 55, 43–46.

    Google Scholar 

  • Becker, H. A., and Sallans, H. R., 1956. Studies on the desorption isotherms of wheat at 25°C and 50°C. Cereal Chem., 33, 79–91.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boswell, V. R., Toole, E. H., Toole, V. K., and Fisher, D. F., 1940. A study of rapid deterioration of vegetable seeds and methods for its prevention. US Dept Agric. Tech. Bull. 708.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bottomley, R. A., Christensen, C. M., and Geddes, W. F., 1950. Grain storage studies. IX. The influence of various temperatures, humidity, and oxygen concentrations on mould growth and biochemical changes in stored yellow corn. Cereal Chem., 27, 217–96.

    Google Scholar 

  • Breese, M. H., 1955. Hysteresis in the hygroscopic equilibria of rough rice at 25C. Cereal Chem., 32, 481–87.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brett, C. C., 1953. The influence of storage conditions upon the longevity of seeds, with special reference to root and vegetable crops. Rep.13th Inst. hort. Gongr.1952, 1016–18.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burges, H. D., 1964. Control of insects with bacteria. World Crops, September, 1964, 229–43.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burges, H. D., and Burrell, N. J., 1964. Cooling bulk grain in the British climate to control storage insects and to improve keeping quality.7. Sci. Food Agric., 15, 32–50.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burges, H. D., Edwards, D. M., Burrell, N. J., and Cammell. M. E., 1963. Effects of storage temperature and moisture content on the germinative energy of malting barley, with particular reference to high temperature.7. Sci. Food Agric., 14, 580–83.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burrell, N. J., 1970. Conditions for Safe Grain Storage, Tech. Note 16. Home Grown Cereals Authority, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burrell, N. J., and La u n d o n, J. H. J., 1967. Grain cooling studies. I. Observations during a large scale refrigeration test on damp grain..7. stored Prod. Res., 3, 125–44.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carlson, G. E., and Atkins, R. E., 1960. Effect of freezing temperature on seed viability and seedling vigour of grain sorghum. Agron. J., 52, 329–33.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ching, T. M., Parker, M. C., and Hill, D. D., 1959. Interaction of moisture and temperature on viability of forage seeds stored in hermetically sealed cans. Agron. I., 51, 680–84.

    Google Scholar 

  • Christensen, C. M., and Lôpez, F., 1963. Pathology of stored seeds. Proc. int. Seed Test. Ass., 28, 701–11.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cotton, R. T., 1954. Insects. In Storage of Cereal Grains and their Products, eds. J. A. Anderson and A. W. Alcock, 152–220. Amer. Assoc. of Cereal Chemists, St Paul.

    Google Scholar 

  • Curtis, O. F., and Clark, D. G., 1960. An Introduction to Plant Physiology, p. 569. McGraw-Hill, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Davis, D. S., 1962. Nomography and empirical equations. 2nd edit. Reinhold, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dore, J., 1955. Dormancy and viability of padi seed. Malayan agric. J., 38, 163–73.

    Google Scholar 

  • Evans, G., 1957. The viability over a period of fifteen years of severely dried ryegrass seed. J. Brit. Grassland Soc., 12, 286–89.

    Google Scholar 

  • Finney, D. J., 1962. Probit Analysis. 2nd edit. Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gane, R., 1948. The effect of temperature, water content and composition of the atmosphere on the viability of carrot, onion and parsnip seeds in storage.Tagric. Res., 38, 84–89.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gane, R., 1948. The effect of temperature, humidity, and atmosphere on the viability of Chewing’s Fescue grass seed in storage. J. agric. Sci., 38, 90–92.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ghose, R. L. M., Chat GE, M. B., and Subrahmanyan, V., 1956. Rice in India, 166. Indian Counc. Agric. Res., New Delhi.

    Google Scholar 

  • Glass, R. L., Ponte, J. G., Christensen, C. M., and Geddes, W. F., 1959. Grain storage studies. XXVIII. The influence of temperature and moisture level on the behaviour of wheat stored in air and nitrogen. Cereal Chem., 36, 341–56.

    Google Scholar 

  • Groves. J. F., 1917. Temperature and life duration of seeds. Bot. Gaz., 63, 169–89.

    Google Scholar 

  • Haber, E. S., 1950. Longevity of the seed of sweet corn inbreds and hybrids. Proc. Am. Soc. hort. Sci., 55, 410–12.

    Google Scholar 

  • Haferkamp, M. E., Smith, L., and Nolan, R. A., 1953. Studies on aged seeds. I. Relation of seed age to germination and longevity. Agron. y., 45, 434–37.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harrison, B. J., 1966. Seed deterioration in relation to storage conditions and its influence upon germination, chromosomal damage and plant performance.,. Nat. Inst. agric. Bot., 10, 644–63.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harrington, J. F., 1963. Practical advice and instructions on seed storage. Proc. int. Seed Test. Ass., 28, 989–94.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harrington, G. T., and Crocker, W., 1918. Resistance of seeds to desiccation. y. Agric. Res., 14, 525–32.

    Google Scholar 

  • Henderson, S. M., 1952. A basic concept of equilibrium moisture. Agric. Engng, 33, 29–32.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holmes, G. D., and Buszewicz, G., 1958. The storage of temperate forest tree species. Forestry Abstr., 19, Nos. 3 and 4.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hubbard, J. E., Earle, F. R., and Sent I, F. R., 1957. Moisture relations in wheat and corn. Cereal Chem., 34, 422–33.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hukill, W. V., 1963. Storage of seeds. Proc. int. Seed Test. Ass., 28, 871–73.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hutchinson, J. B.,1944. The drying of wheat. III. The effect of temperature on germination capacity. y. Soc. chem. Ind., 63, 104–7.

    Google Scholar 

  • Huxley, P. A., 1964. Investigations on the maintenance of viability of robusta coffee seed in storage. Proc. int. Seed Test. Ass., 29, 423–44.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hyde, M. B., and Oxley, T. A., 1960. Experiments on the airtight storage of damp grain. I. Introduction, effect on the grain and the intergranular atmosphere. Ann. appl. Biol., 48, 687–710.

    Google Scholar 

  • James, E., 1961. In Perpetuation and protection of germ plasm as seed, ed. R. E. Hodgson. Publication No. 66, Amer. Assoc. Adv. Sci., Washington.

    Google Scholar 

  • James, E., 1967. Preservation of seed stocks. Adv. Agron., 19, 87–106.

    Google Scholar 

  • James, E., Bass, L. N., and Clark, D. C., 1967. Varietal differences in longevity of vegetable seeds and their response to various storage conditions. Amer. Soc. hort. Sci., 92, 521–28.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones, J. W., 1926. Germination of rice seed as affected by temperature, fungicides, and age. J. Amer. Soc. Agron., 18, 576–92.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaloyereas, S. A., Mann, W., and Miller, J. C., 1961. Experiments in preserving and revitalizing pine, onion, and okra seeds. Econ. Bot., 15, 213–17.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kantor, D. j., and Webster, O. T., 1967. Effects of freezing injury on viability of sorghum seed. Crop Sci., 7, 196–99.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kiesselbach, T. A., and Ratcliffe, J. A., 1920. Freezing injury of corn. Univ. Nebraska Agric. Exp. Sta. Bull., No. 16, 1–96.

    Google Scholar 

  • [Data reproduced by W. J. Robbins, and K. F. Petch, 1932. Moisture content and high temperature in relation to the germination of corn and wheat grains. Bot. Gaz., 93, 85–921

    Google Scholar 

  • Klingmuller, W., and Lane, G. R., 1960. Damaging effect of drying on Vicia faba seeds. Nature, Lond., 185, 699–700.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kreyger, J., 1958. Recherches sur la conservation des orges de brasserie. Le Petit Journal du Brasseur, 66, 811–16.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kreyger, J., 1959. Recherches sur la conservation des orges de brasserie. Le Petit Journal du Brasseur, 67, 7–10.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kreyger, J., 1963. General considerations concerning the drying of seeds. Proc. int. Seed Test. Ass., 28, 753–84.

    Google Scholar 

  • Levan, A., and Lofty, T., 1951. Spontaneous chromosome fragmentation in seedlings of Vicia faba. Hereditas, 36, 470–82.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lindstrom, E. W., 1942. Inheritance of seed longevity in maize inbreds and hybrids. Genetics, Princeton, 27, 154.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lipman, C. B., 1936. Normal viability of seeds and bacterial spores after exposure to temperatures near the absolute zero. Pl. Physiol., 11, 201–5.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lubatti, O. F., and Bunday, G., 1960. The water content of seeds. 1. The moisture relations of seed peas etc. J. Sci. Food Agric., 12, 685–90.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mackay, D. B., and Flood, R. J., 1968. Investigations in crop seed longevity. II. The viability of cereal seed stored in permeable and impermeable containers. I. nat. Inst. agric. Bot., 11, 378–403.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mackay, D. B., and Tonkin, J. H. B., 1967. Investigations in crop seed longevity. I. An analysis of long-term experiments, with special reference to the influence of species, cultivar, provenance and season. J. nat. Inst. agric. Bot., 11, 209–25.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mcfarlane, V. H., Hogan, J. T., and Mclemone, T. A., 1955. Effects of heat treatment on the viability of rice. Tech. Bull. No. 1129, US Dept Agric., Washington, DC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mcrostie, G. P., 1939 The thermal death point of corn from low temperatures. Scient. Agric., 19, 687–99.

    Google Scholar 

  • Milner, M., and Geddes, W. F., 1954. Respiration and heating. In Storage of Cereal Grains and their Products, eds. J. A. Anderson and A. W. Alcock, 152–220. Amer. Assoc. of Cereal Chemists, St Paul.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mitchell, F. S., and Caldwell, F. Y. K., 1962. Influence of variations in harvesting and initial storage on wheat kept for several yearsTagric. Engng Res., 7, 27–41.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mudalier, C. R., and Sundararaj, D. D., 1954. Dormancy and germination of a few crop seeds. Madras agric. J., 38, 163–73.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nagai, I., 1959. Japonica Rice — its Breeding and Culture, 706. Yokendo, Tokyo.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nutile, G. E., 1964. Effect of desiccation on viability of seeds. Crop Sci., 4, 325–28.

    Google Scholar 

  • Owen, E. B., 1956. The Storage of Seeds for the Maintenance of Viability. Commonwealth Agric. Bureaux, Farnham Royal, England.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oxley, T. A., 1948. The Scientific principles of Grain Storage. Northern Publishing Co., Liverpool.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oxley, T. A., and Pixton, S . W., 1960. Determination of moisture content in cereals. II. Errors in the determination by oven drying of known changes in moisture content.,. Sci. Food Agric., 11, 315–19.

    Google Scholar 

  • Parkin, E. A., 1956. Stored product entomology. Ann. Rev. Entom., 2, 223–40.

    Google Scholar 

  • Parkin, E. A., 1963. The protection of stored seeds from insects and rodents. Proc. int. Seed Test. Ass., 28, 893–909.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peterson, A., Schlegel, V., Hummel, B., Cuendet, L. S., Geddes, W. F., and Christensen, C. M., 1956. Grain storage studies. XXII. Influence of oxygen and carbon dioxide concentrations on mold growth and grain deterioration. Cereal Chem., 33, 53–66.

    Google Scholar 

  • Porter, R. H. 1949. Recent developments in seed technology. Bot. Rev., 15, 221–344.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rall, JU. S., 1961. [The effect of constant reduced temperatures and winter conditions of storage on germination and biochemical properties of maize seeds.] (Russian, English summary.) Izv. Timirjazevsk. S-H. Akad., 5, 35–43. From Field Crop Abstr., 1962, 15, Abstr. No. 1330.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rees, A. R., 1963. A large-scale test of storage methods for oil palm seed. West African Inst. Oil Palm Res., 4 (13), 46–51.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rees, A. R., 1970. Effect of heat-treatment for virus attenuation on tomato seed viability. Thort. Sci., 45, 33–40.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rieger, R., and Michaelis, A., 1958. Cytologische and stoppwechselphysiologische Untersuchungen in aktiv-Meristem der Wurzelspitze von Vicia fabaL. I. Der Einfluss der Unterwasser-Quellung der Samen auf die chromosomale Oberrationstrate. Chromosoma, 9, 238–57.

    Google Scholar 

  • Robbins, W. A., and Porter, R. H., 1946. Germinability of sorghum and soybean exposed to low temperatureAmer. Soc. Agron., 38, 905–13.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roberts, E. H., 1960. The viability of cereal seed in relation to temperature and moisture. Ann. Bot., 24, 12–31.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roberts, E. H., 1961a. Viability of cereal seed for brief and extended periods. Ann. Bot., 25, 373–80.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roberts, E. H., I961b. The viability of rice seed in relation to temperature, moisture content, and gaseous environment. Ann. Bot., 25, 381–90.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roberts, E. H., 1962. Dormancy in rice seed. III. The influence of temperature, moisture, and gaseous environment. J. exp. Bot.,13, 75–94.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roberts, E. H., 1963. An investigation of inter-varietal differences in dormancy and viability of rice seed. Ann. Bot., 27, 365–69.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roberts, E. H., and Abdalla, F. H., 1968. The influence of temperature, moisture, and oxygen on period of seed viability in barley, broad beans, and peas. Ann. Bot., 32, 97–117.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roberts, E. H., Abdalla, F. H., and Owen, R. J., 1967. Nuclear damage and the ageing of seeds with a model for seed survival curves. Symp. Soc. exp. Biol., 21, 65–100.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roberts, H. M., 1959. The effect of storage conditions on the viability of grass seeds. Proc. int. Seed Test. Assoc., 24, 184–213.

    Google Scholar 

  • Robertson, D. W., Lute, A. M., and Gardner, R., 1939. Effects of relative humidity on viability, moisture content, and respiration of wheat, oats, and barley seeds in storage. Tagric. Res., 49, 281–91.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosenow, D. T., Casady, A. J., and Heyne, E. G., 1962. Effects of freezing on germination of sorghum seeds. Crop Sci., 2, 99–102.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rossman, E. C., 1949. Freezing injury of inbred and hybrid maize seed. Agron. 413574–83.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sahadevan, P. C., 1953. Studies on the loss of viability of rice seeds in storage. Madras agric. J., 40, 133–43.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sayre, J. D., 1947. Storage tests with seed corn. Farm and Home Res., 32, 149–54.

    Google Scholar 

  • Semenuik, G., 1954. Microflora. In Storage of Cereal Grains and their Products, eds. J. A. Anderson and A. W. Alcock, 152–220. Amer. Assoc. of Cereal Chemists, St Paul.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shands, H. L., Janisch, D. C., and Dickson, A. D., 1967. Germination response of barley following different harvesting conditions and storage treatments. Crop Sci., 7, 444–46.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shelef, L., and Mohenin, N. N., 1966. Moisture relations in germ, endosperm, and whole corn kernel. Cereal Chem., 43, 347–53.

    Google Scholar 

  • Siegal, S. M., 1953. Effects of exposure of seeds to various physical agents. II. Physiological and chemical aspects of heat injury in the red kidney bean embryo. Bot. Gaz., 114, 297–312.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, S. E., 1947. The sorption of water by high polymers. J. Amer. chem. Soc., 69, 646–51.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stermer, R. A., 1968. Environmental conditions and stress cracks in milled rice. Cereal Chem., 45, 365–73.

    Google Scholar 

  • Toole, E. H., and Toole, V. K., 1946. U.S.D.A. Circ. 753. Cited by Hukill, 1963.

    Google Scholar 

  • Toole, E. H., and Toole, V. K., 1954. Relation of storage conditions to germination and to abnormal seedlings of beans. Proc. int. Seed Test. Assoc., 18, 123–29.

    Google Scholar 

  • Toole, E. H., Toole, V. K., and Gorman, E. K., 1948. Vegetable-seed storage as affected by temperature and relative humidity. US Dept Agric. Tech. Bull. 972.

    Google Scholar 

  • Touzard, J., 1961. Influences de diverses conditions constantes de température et d’humidité sur la longévité des graines de quelques espèces cultivées. Adv. Hort. Sci. and their Applications. Proc. 15th Internat. hort. Congr, Nice, 1, 339–47. Pergamon, Oxford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vegis, A., 1963. Climatic control of germination, bud break, and dormancy In Environmental Control of Plant Growth, ed. L. T. Evans, 265–87. Academic Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Von Senbusch, 1955. Die Erhaltung der Keimfähigkeit von Samen bei tiefen Temperaturen. Zuchter, 25, 168–69.

    Google Scholar 

  • Watson, E. L., 1970. Effect of heat treatment upon the germination of wheat. Can. I. Plant Sci., 50, 107–14.

    Google Scholar 

  • Webster, L. V., and Dexter, S. T., 1961. Effects of physiological quality of seeds on total germination, rapidity of germination, and seedling vigour. Agron. I., 43, 297–99.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weibull, G., 1953. The cold storage of vegetable seed and its significance for plant breeding and the seed trade.Rep. 13th int. hort. Congr., 1952.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weibull, G., 1955. The cold storage of vegetable seeds, further studies. Rep. 14th int. hort. Congr., 1954, 647–67.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors
  1. E. H. Roberts
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agriculture, University of Reading, Earley Gate, RG6 2AT, Reading, UK

    E. H. Roberts (Professor of Crop Production) (Professor of Crop Production)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1972 Chapman and Hall Ltd

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Roberts, E.H. (1972). Storage Environment and the Control of Viability. In: Roberts, E.H. (eds) Viability of Seeds. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-5685-8_2

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-5685-8_2

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-009-5687-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-5685-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics