Propriedades mecânicas do feijão mungo (Vigna radiata (l.) r. wilczek) após a secagem e durante o armazenamento hermético

Abstract

In the current landscape, the demand for healthy food options has a significant impact on the grain market. In this context, mung bean (Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek) stands out due to its low production costs, environmental sustainability, medicinal properties, and nutritional benefits. At the time of harvest, mung bean seeds have a high moisture content, which accelerates metabolic activity and makes the grains susceptible to microbial proliferation. Therefore, the drying process becomes essential to maintain seed quality during storage. Factors such as temperature control, gas concentration, and storage duration are also crucial for ensuring safe storage. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the physiological quality of mung bean seeds after drying and during storage in a hermetic environment. This study was conducted at the Post-Harvest Processes Laboratory (LPPC) of the Federal University of Large Dourados (UFGD) in a 2 x 4 factorial design (2 temperatures and 4 storage periods), with a completely randomized design and four replications. Mung bean seeds were cultivated in the Experimental Area of the College of Agricultural Sciences at UFGD. Harvesting and threshing were performed manually when seeds reached a moisture content of approximately 15%, wet basis (w.b.). Drying was carried out in an experimental fixed-bed convective dryer, equipped with a system that adjusts airflow and controls the drying air temperature. The seeds were subjected to drying air temperatures of 40 and 50 ºC. After drying, the seeds were stored in 200 mL polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles covered with aluminum foil to prevent light exposure for a period of 180 days. Physiological quality analyses were performed immediately after drying and every 60 days through germination tests, seedling length, accelerated aging, cold test, and emergence speed index. Mung bean seeds showed increased results in the accelerated aging and seedling length tests during storage in a hermetic environment. However, the results from the cold test and emergence speed index decreased during storage, highlighting the fragility of the seeds when subjected to storage in conjunction with the stress caused by low temperatures. Germination was not significantly influenced during the evaluated storage period.