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 Consults SEED News - jan/feb 2004
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This section is coordinated by the professors from the Federal University of Pelotas -
www.ufpelsementes.com.br
Send your question to e-mail: silmar@seednews.inf.br
Some soybean producers have been complaining that at the field border an appropriate stand of plants didn't established. Could you please comment about it?
At the crop border, usually, there is a greater soil compaction due to traffic of tractors, sowing machines, trucks, etc. Therefore, the sowing process in these conditions is more difficult, having problems, mainly with the soil-seed contact and sowing depth. In conditions of low moisture in the soil, the roots seek for water at larger depths and in compacted soils it is more difficult; in case of rain after the sowing, the fertilizer put together with the seed will affect it with more intensity. So, these conditions become two more factors that affect establishment of a good plant stand.
I have a company that sells, vegetables and corn seeds among other products. Sometimes I do not sell all the seed in the sowing period and some amounts remain for the following year. What precautions should I take?
Fortunately, the great majority of the vegetables seeds are packed in impermeable containers (aluminum, can) with low moisture content. In these conditions, if the package is not opened, the seeds can be stored for at least three years. In the case of corn, where the seeds are in paper bags and with moisture among 12-13%, the storage potential in open conditions is of ± 8 months. To avoid damages it is good to request corn seeds from the companies little by little, because they have special storage facilities.
Seeds are live organisms and we need them in pre-determined periods. So, usually they go by a storage period. Is it possible to estimate for how long the seeds can stay alive?
A lot of research has already been done on this subject and it can be said that it is possible to estimate the storage potential of a seed. This depends mainly on the species ( some live longer than others), on the seed moisture content, on the environmental temperature and on the initial seed physiologic quality.
I often hear that the seeds were tested in agreement with the rules of testing seeds. Could you comment about it?
Taking as example the germination test, it needs to be conducted in such a way that the results are the same in all seed laboratories. For that, rules were established including all conditions for seed germination. Adequate conditions of temperature, moisture, substratum, and sometimes dormancy breaking process and light are given. Many countries possess their own rules for testing seed; however the most important are ISTA´s rules, that are used for the international seed market.
I would like to have a comment about the government's function in the seed business of a country. There is a perception that the government is inefficient, therefore, as less functions it has the better.
Seed business involves several processes, such as new varieties, the production of basic and commercial seeds, the market, the protection and the determination of seed quality. There is a consensus that the government should be out of the production and market of seeds, however, for the business to work well, the government provides standards in the structural aspect, through laws and norms. The government should use mechanisms for the farmer to have at his disposal quality and seed quantities, this way, many times, it also acts in the creation of new varieties and seed certification. Another function of the government is the inspections of the seed market.
Nowadays, what does the soybean seed treatment involves? Some time ago it was just fungicide application.
The research has been demonstrating that a good stand is essential to reach high productivity. In this sense, seeds started to be protected with fungicide, with great results and now the micronutrients application is becoming a practice in which 40% of the soybean producers already adhered. Therefore, a classic treatment of soybean seeds in the seed processing unit involves the fungicide application, micronutrients and a covering to improve the treatment and the sowing process.
Is it possible that a seed laboratory be accredited to ISTA and do not have permission to emit seed analysis bulletin for the market?
Actually, that is possible and several countries have laboratories in these conditions. The country recognizes the importance of ISTA as international organization to attest the quality, however, for several reasons; it doesn't provide that their seed laboratories are prepared to accomplish the analyses according to ISTA procedures.
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