Quality of adzuki bean seeds desiccated with flumioxazin and subjected to storage

Abstract

Production and storage environments influence the physiological and sanitary quality of seeds. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the herbicide flumioxazin applied as a preharvest desiccant and storage on the physiological and sanitary quality of adzuki bean seeds. A randomized block design was used in a split-plot scheme, with four replications. Plots consisted of five doses of the herbicide flumioxazin (20, 25, 30, 35, and 40 g ai·ha-1) and subplots consisted of two evaluation times (harvest and six months after harvest). Two controls, with no herbicide application, were tested for each evaluation time. The physiological seed quality was maintained with doses from 25 to 35 g·ha-1 of flumioxazin. Increasing herbicide doses reduced the electrical conductivity of seeds. The increased doses also reduced the percentage of normal seedlings in the first germination count after six months of storage and caused seedling vigor loss. The storage of adzuki bean for six months reduced its physiological quality, leading to losses in germination and seed vigor. Storage and increasing doses of the desiccant flumioxazin reduced the incidence of the pathogens Rhizopus, Cladosporium, and Fusarium in the seeds. The increased doses of this herbicide reduced Aspergillus incidence. Penicillium incidence was not affected by treatments.