SEED AGING OF OIL CROPS

Changes occurring in seed during storage are very significant in terms of the quality and longevity of seed. The characteristics of seed composition of oil crops are also influenced by the specificity of the processes occurring in seed during storage. The seed of sunflower and soybean genotypes were subjected to accelerated aging test, as well as to the natural aging in controlled and conventional (uncontrolled) conditions for the period of six and 12 months. Seed aging, artificial as well as the natural one has caused its damage, which negatively affected quality and seed germination of the examined soybean and sunflower genotypes. The degree of damage and the ability of seed to resist the negative aging effects have influenced, beside the time of aging, also the type of storage and plant species. The best way of seed storage is the one that had smallest influence on changes of seed biological nature, which can be acomplished by efficient regulation of relative humidy and temperature.