Hermetically sealed storage of cereal seeds and its influence on vigour and germination

Investigations of the influence of hermetic cereal seed storage on germination were carried out in the laboratory of the Faculty of Agriculture in Osijek (Croatia) over 5 years (1992-96). Seeds of four species (winter wheat, winter barley, spring oat, and maize) were stored in hermetic glass containers at an air temperature of 20 degreesC and a relative humidity of 65 %. The moisture level in stored seeds was 13 %. After 5 years, statistically highly significant associations (P < 0.01) were found between storage longevity (five researched years) and seed germination of the four cereals. Germination of all investigated cereals was high (between 97.25 % for maize and 93 % for winter wheat) after harvest. The germination level decreased for all cereals, on average by 38 %, over the 5 years of storage. The highest germination values were found for wheat seeds (84.75 %) and the lowest germination values for maize seeds (36.0 %). The results showed that germination of all investigated cereals seeds was negatively correlated with storage longevity. The differences in germination found amongst the cereals were statistically highly significant (P < 0.01).