Electrical Conductivity and Calcium, Magnesium and Potassium Contents of Stored Dry Beans Seeds.

The electrical conductivity test has been used for many species, especially legumes seeds, recommended for pea and suggested for soybean. This research was carried out in order to investigate the relationship between the amount of electrolytes (K⁺, Ca⁺⁺ and Mg⁺⁺) on the seed soaked solution and the vigor measured by electrical conductivity test of bean seeds (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) stored at 10, 25 °C and 25/10 ^oC (six months at 25 ^oC and than moved to 10 ^oC for more six months). Three seed lots of IAPAR - 81 (Carioca Group) and three of the cultivar IPR - Tiziu (black group) stored in a cold chamber at 10 °C and in a BOD at 25 °C were used. Evaluations were done in intervals of three months over 12 months and the variables were: water content, germination and vigor (accelerated aging and electrical conductivity tests). The potassium content in the imbibition solution was determined by flame photometry and for calcium and magnesium contents, by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The statistics model used was completely randomized design in factorial (four periods of storage X three temperatures) with additional treatment (initial assessment) with four replicates for each lot. The cultivars showed similar behavior in storage. Electrical conductivity values decreased in the last evaluation and it was not followed by reduction of the ions quantified. The potassium was the ion leached in larger amounts from bean seeds stored, and its behavior was closest to the results of electrical conductivity test. The electrical conductivity test detected the vigor reduction of bean seeds during storage up to nine months at temperatures of 10 and 25 °C. According to the results it is concluded that the electrical conductivity test and the measurement of ions of calcium, magnesium and potassium was not influenced by temperature of seed storage.