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The influence of moisture content on the viability of wheat seeds

Freshly harvested seeds of Garnet-63 wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were adjusted to four different moisture contents and stored in sealed containers at room temperature. Germination better than 92% was obtained after seeds containing 7.8, 9.2 and 11.1 % of moisture content were stored during 30 months. Complete viability for 12 months was obtained for seeds with the natural 13.1% of moisture content; marked decrease in the percentage of germination was observed when those seeds were stored longer. For stored seeds with 15.2% of moisture content, the germination was reduced to 64% after 2 months, and to 0% 6 months later. Seeds with the natural 13.1% of moisture content, and stored in open container at room temperature, after 6 and 8 months germinated 80 and 62% respectively. Under these storage conditions the moisture content of the seeds varied betwen 10.5 and 15.9% during the 12-month period of the experiment.


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