Effect of moisture content and method of rehydration on the susceptibility of pea seeds to imbibition damage.

Abstract

The proportion of seeds germinating normally in standard laboratory tests of one lot of the pea (Pisum sativum L.) cultivar «Feltham First» declined progressively from 94% to 50% when the seeds were slowly dried from 14.8% to 3.7% moisture content (wet weight basis) at ambient temperatures. However, the damage apparent following desiccation was avoided if the moisture content of the seeds before the beginning of the germination tests was raised by humidification. (...)