Durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) seed storage under controlled conditions

Abstract

Aim. The aim of this work was to determine the longevity of durum wheat seeds according to the results of seed germination monitoring after seed storage for up to 19 years under controlled conditions in the National Plant Gene Bank of Ukraine. Results and Discussion. 36 accessions of spring durum wheat were investigated. These accessions belonged to var. hordeiforme, var. leucurum, var. melanopus, var. alexandrinum, var. apulicum, var. australe from seven countries; seven samples of durum winter wheat belonged to var. hordeiforme, var. leucurum were from Ukraine. Accessions were received by the Ukrainian genebank from seven countries: Ukraine, Russia, Mexico, France, Portugal, Kazakhstan and Tunisia. Seed accessions for storage were grown mainly in the eastern forest-steppe of Ukraine, stored in the National depositary in this region at unregulated temperature and at 4°C with seed moisture content of 5.5-8.0%. The mode of seed drying, which took place at temperature not higher than 25°C is discussed. The obtained results indicate high seed longevity of durum wheat under these conditions with initial seed germination rate more than 90% even in a storage facility at unregulated temperature. There were no differences in seed longevity between varieties of durum wheat under the studied storage conditions. Conclusions. Seeds of durum wheat remain unchanged for at least 10 years with a high initial germination of seeds, storage in sealed containers with moisture content 5.5-8.0% even at unregulated temperature of the eastern forest-steppe of Ukraine. Durum wheat seeds should be storage at temperature 4°C to increase seed longevity at seed moisture 5.5-8.0%.