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Polymers as Moisture Barriers to Maintain Seed Quality¹

Soybean [Glycine max (L.)] seed coats readily permit entry moisture and fungi which cause seed deterioration. The seed deterioration process is enhanced by high temperature and high humidity storage conditions. Synthetic coats, which restrict water entry, may prevent deterioration. Soybean seeds were coated with several types of polymers to determine the influence of the polymer on water uptake and on maintaining seed quality. One polymer, poly(vinylidene chloride), was found to reduce water uptake from a 100% relative humidity environment but to increase water uptake from standard germination conditions. These seeds resisted the stress caused by accelerated aging and had less fungal growth than seeds without the synthetic coat. The polymer did not inhibit germination.

Key Words: Seed germination • Accelerated aging • Synthetic seed coats

² Plant physiologist, USDA, ARS; biologist; Agronomy Seed Laboratory, Univ. of Florida, IFAS, Gainesville, FL 32611.

³ Graduate assistant, associate professor, and professor, respectively, Dept. of Material Science and Engineering, Univ. of Florida, Gainsville, FL 32611.

Received for publication September 10, 1984.