Reduction of hardseededness in mungbean by short duration high temperature treatment

Abstract

Seeds of 2 lines of mungbean (Vigna radiata), soft-seeded cv. Berken and HS23 with 34% hard seeds, were agitated on a hot plate to determine the effects of temperatures up to 200°C on hardseededness, germination and seed variability. The results of this experiment, combined with a pilot trial using a heated rotating cylinder, showed that the temperature of 175°C for 30 s was the optimum treatment to produce seeds suitable for sprouting. This heat treatment reduced hardseededness from 34 to 1%, increased germination from 64 to 96%, and did not increase the percentage of dead seeds.