Electrical Conductivity in Lentil Seed Leachates Using a Single-Seed Analyzer.

Little information exists on electrical conductivity of leachate from individual seeds to predict the quality of the seed sample with minimum time in lentil (Lens culinaris Medikus). Seed lots of three promising lentil lines harvested and stored under ambient conditions for 3 yr were aged at 40 ± 0.5°C and approximately 100% RH for 3 or 5 days, followed by soaking in deionized water for 3 or 5 h at 20°C before testing the electrolytes released using a G-2000 Single-Seed Analyzer. High mean values of electrical conductivity were detected at zero time and after 5 d of aging when soaked for 3 h. Electrolyte leakage was greater in seeds with low (7.8%) moisture than in seeds with high moisture and sharply increased with aging. The distribution of conductivity readings from individual seeds in all lines showed that low quality seeds tended to have higher conductivity values as aging increased. Because of the significant correlation between predicted and actual standard germination (r = 0.92), the conductivity reading of 180 μS/cm was regarded as an acceptable partition between high- and low-quality seeds, despite the difficulties in identifying an absolute boundary. Our conclusion is that a single-seed analyzer can be used to accurately predict the field potential of lentil seed lots and provide valuable seed quality information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]