ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the seed conditioning process on the sanitary quality of Panicum maximum ‘Mombasa’ seeds. The seeds were sampled before processing and after exiting the seed blower and sieves (discharge from the top and bottom sieves), first gravity separator (intermediate discharge), seed treatment equipment (dyeing the seeds of the intermediate discharge from the first separator), and second gravity separator (upper, intermediate, and lower discharge). Sanitary analysis was performed by the Blotter Test method with and without surface disinfestation of the seeds, which were incubated at 20 ± 2 °C, with a photoperiod of 12 h, for 7 d. The conditioning process increased the incidence of Fusarium sp. in the Mombasa grass seeds. In addition, Cladosporium sp. and Alternaria sp. were found in and on the surface of the seeds and, therefore, can be disseminated by the seed conditioning machines. The percentage of seeds with Alternaria sp. decreased after dyeing and after the top discharge of the second gravity separator stage.

RESUMO Objetivou-se, neste trabalho, avaliar a qualidade sanitária de sementes de Panicum maximum cv. Tanzânia durante as etapas de beneficiamento. As sementes foram amostradas antes do processamento e após a saída da máquina de ventilador e peneiras (descarga das peneiras superior, intermediária e fundo), primeira mesa gravitacional (deriva, descarga superior e intermediária), mesa gravitacional (descarga superior, intermediária e inferior) e máquina tratadora para tingimento das sementes. A análise sanitária foi realizada pelo método do papel de filtro com e sem desinfestação superficial das sementes, as quais foram incubadas a 20 ± 2 °C, com fotoperíodo de 12 h durante sete dias. Algumas etapas de beneficiamento podem reduzir a porcentagem de sementes de P. maximum cv. Tanzânia contaminadas com Phoma sp. e Helminthosporium sp. Em geral, o beneficiamento pode aumentar a porcentagem de sementes com Cladosporium sp. e Cercospora sp. Os fungos Phoma sp., Helminthosporium sp., Penicillium sp., Cladosporium sp. e Cercospora sp. se encontram alojados nas sementes interna e externamente e podem ser disseminados pelas máquinas de beneficiamento.

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to evaluate the sanitary quality of seeds of Panicum maximum cv. ‘Tanzânia’, following the several phases of the seed processing process. Seeds were sampled before processing and after leaving the air and screen machine (upper and intermediary screens and bottom); first gravity table (drift, upper and intermediate spouts); second gravity table (upper, intermediate, and lower spouts), and treating machine for dyeing the seeds. The sanitary analyses were conducted according to the filter paper method, with and without superficial disinfestation of the seeds, which were incubated at a temperature of 20 ± 2 °C with photoperiod of 12 h for seven days. Some seed processing steps may reduce the incidence of seeds of P. maximum cv. ‘Tanzania’ contaminated with Phoma sp. and Helminthosporium sp. In general, the processing can increase the incidence of seeds contaminated with Cladosporium sp. and Cercospora sp. The fungi Phoma sp., Helminthosporium sp., Penicillium sp., Cladosporium sp. and Cercospora sp. are found inside and outside the seeds and can be disseminated by the processing machines.

ABSTRACT The available research concerning the processing of grass seeds is scarce, despite its fundamental importance for national and international agribusiness. The objective of this project was to evaluate the effects of processing phases on the physical and physiological quality of tanzania grass seeds for commercialization purposes. Seeds were sampled before processing and after leaving the air and screen machine (upper and intermediate screens and bottom); first gravity table (drift, upper and intermediate spouts); treating machine; second gravity table (upper, intermediate, and lower spouts). Seeds were evaluated as to water content, physical quality (purity and 1,000 seeds weight) and physiological (germination, first count of germination, seedling vigor rating, seedlings length of primary roots and shoots, seedling emergence in the field, and emergence speed index). The processing of Tanzania grass seeds in the air screen cleaner machine and gravity table are efficient to improve the physical quality of the lot. The seed treatment with dye ink reduces the seedlings emergence speed in the field. The processing is not required to meet the national commercialization standards of the Tanzania grass seeds, but for the international.

RESUMO Objetivou-se, neste trabalho, avaliar o efeito de temperaturas e substratos na germinação de sementes de P. volubilis. Sementes colhidas em 25 plantas matrizes foram avaliadas em dois estudos: (i) semeadura em rolo de papel nas temperaturas 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 e 45 ºC, avaliando-se a germinação, primeira contagem, índice de velocidade de germinação e tempo médio de germinação; e (ii) semeadura nos substratos rolo de papel, entre areia, entre Basaplant®, entre Bioplant® e entre vermiculita mícron, superfina, fina, média e grossa; conduzindo-se a 30 ºC os mesmos testes descritos no primeiro estudo e também o crescimento de plântulas. Os dados foram analisados em delineamento inteiramente casualizado com análise de regressão polinomial para a avaliação das temperaturas. Para a comparação entre os substratos utilizou-se o teste de Scott Knott, a 0,05 de probabilidade. Conclui-se que a germinação de sementes de P. volubilis deve ser conduzida nas temperaturas de 25 a 30 oC. A temperatura de 20 oC é a mínima para a germinação e as acima de 35 oC são letais para essas sementes. O substrato mais favorável à germinação de sementes de P. volubilis é a vermiculita mícron ou fina.

ABSTRACT The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of temperature and substrate on the germination of P. volubilis seeds. Seeds harvested from 25 matrix plants were submitted, in two studies, to conditions of (i) sowing in rolled paper towel at the temperatures of 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, and 45 °C, for the evaluation of germination, first count of germination, germination speed index and mean time for germination, and (ii) sowing in the substrates paper towel, sand, Bioplant®, Bioplant® and micron, superfine, fine, medium and coarse vermiculite. The same evaluations mentioned in the first study were conducted at the temperature of 30 oC, as well as plant growth. The treatment replicates were distributed in a completely randomized block design and the effects of temperature were compared by polynomial regression analysis. The substrates were compared by the Scott-Knott test at 0.05 probability level. The data show that the ideal range of temperature for the germination of P. volubilis is between 25 and 30 °C. The temperature of 20 °C is the minimum for germination and those above 35 °C are lethal to these seeds. The most favorable substrate for P. volubilis seed germination is micron or fine vermiculite.