Effect of seed moisture content at harvesting and storage temperature on barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) cultivars seeds vigor

This study was conducted to investigate the role of storage condition on seed quality of five barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) Cultivars (Usef, Nosrat, Riehan, sahra and productive), with different moisture contents (Mc)(14%, 16% and 18%) under storage condition. Seed exposed at two storage temperature (20C °and alternative temperature 20-30 . °) Experimental units were arranged factorialy in a completely randomized design with four replications. Results showed that after one year of seed storage, seeds that stored at 20-30 C° (alternative temperature) increased germination percentage and seedvigor in all cultivars. Meanwhile, germination percentage and seedling vigor were significantly affected by interaction among seed moisture content × cultivar× temperature after one year of seed storage. The highest germination percentage (99 %) was recorded for sahra cultivar in seed by 18% moisture content under storage at 20-30 C ° . Also, the maximum normal seedling were obtained from Riehan × Mc 18% × at 20-30 C° (alternative temperature) and productive× Mc 18% × 20-30C. Likewise, the minimum germination percentage (4.5%) and normal seedling (3.7%) was recorded for productive cultivar when seed harvested with Mc 14% and stored under 20 C° condition. Also, the results indicated that 20 C° storage temperature had adverse effect on seed quality when seed harvested with Mc 14% after one year storage, inall cultivars. Meanwhile, the electrical conductivity (EC) increased in seed by Mc 14% with compared to Mc18% and Mc 16%. Generally, according to cultivars that examined in this experiment, the effectiveness of storage temperature on improving seedling vigor and increasing germination percentage was more pronounced at 20-30 C° (alternative temperature) along with sample with 18.0% Mc. Finally seed stored at 20-30 C° (alternative temperature) could have maintained their vigour high, it is new founding that could help to control of seed deterioration.