SUSCEPTIBILITY OF PEA-SEEDS TO ACETONE TOXICITY - INTERACTIONS WITH SEED MOISTURE-CONTENT AND AGING TREATMENTS

Although the use of acetone as a solvent for infusion treatments has been successful in many cases, recurring problems of solvent damage are not well understood. This study shows that not only do different cultivars of garden and field peas (Pisum sativum L. and Pisum arvense L., respectively) vary in tolerance of acetone, but toxicity effects may not be apparent in seeds set to germinate immediately. Acetone treatment may, however, decrease subsequent storability. One of the most crucial factors determining susceptibility to acetone damage is initial seed moisture content. Toxic effects of acetone were not detected in the highly susceptible garden pea cultivar, Bolero, if seeds were first dried down to moisture contents below eight percent prior to solvent treatments. If moisture content is reduced to around six percent, seeds may be susceptible to water soaking injury on subsequent controlled deterioration, but this can be avoided by allowing the seeds to equilibrate with 100% RH at 20-degrees-C for 24 h before exposure to the ageing treatment.