After harvesting and threshing the seeds of beans are taken to a seed processing plant where from by elevator are taken to machines of pre-cleaning, cleaning, separation and classification, treatment and packing for posterior storage. During this course, impacts are promoted by the movement of elevators and machines. With the objective to contribute with quality control program of bean seeds mainly produced in the Paraíba State, the mechanical impacts undergone by seeds of two varieties of Vigna bean with two moisture contents (13.5 and 7.3%) were studied after harvesting, threshing and passage through different stages at the Empresa de Pesquisa Agropecuária da Paraíba, located in Alagoinha, PB. Mechanical damages of impacts were statistically analysed, in a completely randomized experimental design in a 2 x 2 x 5 factorial seheme, submitting the means of quatitative factors to regression in variance analysis. Seeds with moisture content of 7.3% of the variety 'Rabo de Tatu' were most susceptible to breakage by impacts caused during the processing and the injuries increased with the number of passages of seeds throngh different stages of processing to which seeds are subjected, showing accumulative character, indicating a direct relation between the number of shocks and their effects.
impacts; processing; quality control
