Triticale seeds of the IAC-2 cultivar presented germination of 85% after harvest and natural incidence of the following pathogenic fungi: 34.5% Pyricularia grisae, 12% Bipolaris sorokiniana, 15% Fusarium graminearum and 35% Alternaria alternata. The seeds were stored at 10 ºC and under natural ambient conditions for twelve months. The seed physiological quality was evaluated at bimonthly intervals by the germination, accelerated aging, tetrazolium and field emergence tests and fungi survival was evaluated by the blotter test. The seeds stored at 10 ºC maintained the same level of germination, viability and vigor for twelve months even though the fungi incidences also remained almost unchanged too. The germination and viability of seeds stored under natural ambient conditions decreased and the level of dead seeds increased due to a higher speed of deterioration and an increased level of storage fungi, mainly Penicillium spp.. The pathogenic fungi levels decreased, reaching very low values at the end of the storage period. However, the pathogen survival was still harmful at the time of the planting season (April).
X. triticosecale Wittmack; seeds; storage; vigor; germination; seed pathology
