Seed treatment is important for protecting seed and seedling from pests and/or pathogens. Seed treatment can be performed generally in two ways: industrial seed treatment (IST), performed by seed companies, or on-farm treatment (OFT). These treatment technologies will affect the final quality of the process. Therefore, the objective of this study was to characterize the seed quality profile of ISTs and OFTs in Brazilian agribusiness in terms of functional quality and dose application effectiveness (DAE). Seed samples treated by both processes were collected in 6 producing states of Brazil, Mato Grosso, Goiás, Paraná, Minas Gerais, São Paulo, and Santa Catarina. To evaluate the functional quality of the treatments, the coating percentage was determined by high-resolution image analysis with GroundEye® equipment, and the insecticide active ingredient DAE amount was determined with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Image analysis proved to be a promising technique to evaluate seed coating, in addition, samples treated with “on farm” technology had greater variation and heterogeneity in coating and active ingredient dose, while samples treated industrially showed greater homogeneity, uniformity, effectiveness of applied products. There was a strong positive correlation between coating with phytosanitary products and DAE in treated corn seeds, important parameters in the evaluation of the quality of the treatment.

A Bowdichia virgilioides Kunth., conhecida popularmente como paricarana, é uma espécie com potencial econômico paisagístico, madeireiro e para a recuperação de áreas degradadas. Objetivou-se com este trabalho a caracterização física de sementes de paricarana com diferentes cores do tegumento provenientes de 12 matrizes, utilizando técnicas de análise de imagem, além de verificar a eficiência do tratamento de superação de dormência aplicado às sementes para determinar a qualidade fisiológica. As sementes de 12 matrizes de paricarana foram classificadas em cor laranja e vermelha manualmente e com auxílio do aparelho e software Groundeye®. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi inteiramente casualizado, em arranjo fatorial 12 x 2 (matrizes x cores) com quatro repetições. Foram avaliadas a morfometria das sementes e plântulas, raios-x, germinação, velocidade de sementes embebidas, velocidade de germinação e microscopia eletrônica de varredura das sementes. Para o teste de germinação realizou-se o tratamento de superação de dormência das sementes com água a 100°C por 10 segundos, e para controle de patógenos, hipoclorito de sódio a 2% por cinco minutos. As técnicas utilizadas para caracterização física das sementes de cor laranja e vermelha das 12 matrizes de paricarana são eficientes. As sementes de paricarana de cor laranja apresentam melhor qualidade física e fisiológica. O tratamento com água a 100°C por 10 segundos mais cinco minutos de imersão em hipoclorito a 2% é eficiente na superação de dormência, e controle de patógenos das sementes de cor laranja e vermelha das 12 matrizes de paricarana.

The expansion of açai production has increased the importance of management of seeds used for replanting or expanding the plantation areas. Thus, the aim of this work was to evaluate the performance of açai seeds with different moisture contents, treated or untreated with fungicide, and stored for 180 days. The seeds were divided into three moisture levels (35%, 30% and 20%), and with or without fungicide treatment, with four storage evaluation periods (0, 60, 120 and 180 days). They were packed in plastic bags and kept in natural environment. The experimental design was completely randomized, with a 3 x 2 x 4 factorial scheme (moisture contents x treated or untreated with fungicide x period of evaluation), with four replications of 50 seeds each. The following tests were conducted: moisture content, germination, tetrazolium test, seedling emergence, seedling emergence speed and X-ray. Açai seeds with 35% and 30% moisture contents treated with fungicide showed a better physiological quality in relation to the untreated ones. Storage longer than 120 days reduced seed germination to values below 50%, regardless of whether they were treated or not with fungicide, although the reduction was greater in untreated seeds. The fungicide treatment is efficient in controlling fungi in açai seeds with 30% and 20% moisture content for up to 180 days of storage, and in seeds with 35% moisture content for up to 60 days of storage.

The cottonseed delinting removes lint from the seed coat to improve plantability and maintain the seed’s physiological quality, therefore, this work aimed to determine the effect of delinting and neutralizers’ residual on the physiological quality of stored cottonseed by using image analysis phenotyping. The experiment was a randomized factorial design of 3 x 4 x 2 and two periods of storage evaluation (0 and 180 days). The cotton seeds were delinted at three different times (2, 4, and 10 minutes), neutralized using four distinct neutralizers (Quicklime, Hydrated lime, Filler lime, and NaOH), and there were seeds with and without neutralizer residue. The evaluations carried out were: water content, seed residual lint imaging, germination, seedling emergence, and seedling length imaging. The neutralizers Quicklime, Hydrated lime, and Filler lime do not need removal from the cotton seed coat. In storage, only the neutralizer NaOH has a high latent effect in lowering cottonseed quality, and the other neutralizers have lower physiological quality when the residue is removed. The image analysis phenotyping is efficient in identifying seedlings’ vigor.

Cycas revoluta seeds exhibit both physical and morphological dormancy, posing significant challenges to their germination. This study investigated the morphological characteristics and dormancy mechanisms of C. revoluta seeds and evaluated methods to overcome these dormancies. Seeds were harvested over two consecutive years and subjected to different treatments. A morphological analysis of seed structure was conducted, along with assessments of physical (seed size, weight, and moisture content) and physiological tests (germination rate, germination speed, and mean time of germination).Morphological characterization revealed that the thick, woody sclerotesta forms an impermeable barrier, while the embryos within are often underdeveloped at the time of seed maturity. Germination of the first year demonstrated that removing the sclerotesta significantly enhances germination rates, with naked seeds achieving a 70% germination rate at 30 °C. In the second year, soaking naked seeds in gibberellic acid at 200 ppm for 24 hours further promoted germination, though its effect was modest compared to sclerotesta removal (naked seed). This study also demonstrated that storing seeds for a year allowed embryos to complete their development, further improving germination outcomes. These findings suggested that mechanical removal of the sclerotesta, combined with optimal storage conditions, is an effective strategy for overcoming dormancy in C. revoluta seeds and soak time in gibberellic acid (200 ppm) or water for 24 hours could enhance germination as well.