Cereal Chem 64:237-239   |  VIEW ARTICLE

Effect of Seed Moisture Content and Temperature on the Seed Coat Durability of Field Pea.

A. O. F. Ehiwe, R. D. Reichert, D. J. Schwab, E. S. Humbert, and G. Mazza. Copyright 1987 by the American Association of Cereal Chemists, Inc. 

The Tangential Abrasive Dehulling Device (TADD) was modified and used to evaluate the effects of seed moisture content (6-20%) and temperature (from -40 to 40 C) on seed coat breakage of two cultivars of field pea. Seed coat breakage of peas at 24 C and 14-15% seed moisture content (approximating harvest conditions) was comparable to seed coat breakage of commercially harvested farmers' samples. Analysis of variance showed that seed coat breakage was affected mostly by seed moisture content, followed by temperature and cultivar. At all temperature levels seed coat breakage increased linearly (r = -0.92 to - 0.999, P less than 0.01 or 0.05) with decreasing moisture content for both cultivars. Generally, seed coat breakage increased with decreases in seed temperature, particularly at -40 C. To avoid excessive seed coat breakage, it is recommended that peas not be handled at moisture contents less than 14% or at temperatures below -25 C and that they be handled with care at temperatures between -10 and -25 C. The effect of low temperature (-40 C) on seed coat durability was completely reversible.