The mechanism of suppression of intact spring wheat seeds induced by storage with injured and damaged grains

Relevance. The mechanism of the inhibitory effect of injured and damaged grains on the morphophysiological and sowing qualities of intact seeds has been experimentally confirmed and theoretically substantiated. Three batches of spring wheat seeds ( Triticum aestivum L.) of the Agate variety were used in the experiment. The whole set of seeds was divided into two parts: seed inductors (SI) and seed detectors (SD). The role of SD was performed by intact seeds, SI: a) seeds with microtrauma, b) seeds with micro- and macrotrauma, c) seeds with hydrothermal damage. The duration of seed storage was 24 months, including various conditions of air exchange between seeds. Control — intact seeds, stored separately. Results. Storage of seeds for up to 3 days. It was accompanied by an acceleration of germination in DM by 6.5%, an increase in the mass of seedlings, linear parameters of the sprout and the largest primary root to control, respectively, by: 13.5–18,3%, 13,6–15,8%, 9,3%–10,3%. During storage from 12 to 24 months, germination decreased by 5.6–22,2%. The morphometric parameters of the seedlings, depending on the experimental options, depended on the control level, respectively, 62,1–83,7%, 56,0–77,8% and 57.7–87.9%. The concentration of ethylene in the intergranular air during passive air exchange in the experimental versions exceeded the control by 3.5–5.7 times. The mechanism of inhibition of intact seeds is caused by the action of the ethylene phytohormone released by injured and damaged seeds. Block the effect of suppression and prolongation of conditioned sowing qualities in intact seeds allows storage under hypoxia.