Purdue-Indiana Seed Industry Forum Post-Harvest Seed Quality Dirk E. Maier Richard Stroshine Agricultural & Biological Engineering Linda Mason Entomology Charles Woloshuk Botany & Plant Pathology Post-Harvest Education & Research Center Purdue University November 18, 2005

Post-Harvest Education & Research Center Basic and applied research Educational resource materials Hands-on training Distance learning Diagnostic services Extensive technical assistance Target Audience: Grain producers, handlers and processors; allied equipment, technology & service suppliers. PHERC includes a fully functional grain handling center and a new 16-bin state-of-the-art pilot facility as well as four on-campus laboratories (Grain Quality Lab, Physical Properties Lab, Mycotoxin Lab, and Stored Product Pests Lab.

Indiana Soybean End-Use Quality Traits Initiative* Project Goal: Help Indiana soybean growers and seed producers identify the best varieties that will consistently yield the most bushels and contain maximum amounts of end-use quality traits. *Currently sponsored by the Indiana Soybean Board; in collaboration with ICIA

Benefits to Indiana Soybean Growers & Seed Producers Identification of preferable varieties that add value and capture premiums Identification of varieties that contain new traits in higher amounts consistently Access to independent & objective soybean quality analysis laboratory On-line soybean end-use quality database Economic impact through premiums and market access

Illinois/Indiana Soybean Quality Rewards Program ADM and Bunge facilities in Illinois Requires enrollment (Jan 1-Mar 1); limited to 20,000 acres Bunge in Danville for IN farmers CGB in Mt. Vernon, IN No enrollment; no limit on bushels Oil Content (%) Protein Content (%) Premium ($/bu) 19.2 35.50 – 36.00 0.03 36.01 – 36.50 0.04 36.51 – 37.50 0.05 >37.51 0.06

6-year Summary of Indiana ASA Soybean Quality Data

Illinois/Indiana Soybean Quality Rewards Program

Potential Project – End Use Quality Traits Initiative Purdue soybean (and corn) variety performance trials are one of the few in the nation that still do not include end use traits analysis Report agronomic performance only Indiana seed industry needs to partner with Purdue to assure that varieties in the performance trials are representative of the commercial varieties sold and that these varieties are tested for key end use traits Soybean crushing (protein, oil) Ethanol processing (fermentable starch) Wet corn milling (extractable starch) Dry corn milling (kernel hardness)

Purdue Research (1980-90) – Quality Traits of Corn Hybrids Resistance to fungal invasion – certain hybrids perform better in low temperature drying systems Drying rate variations – fast drying hybrids require 10% less energy for high temperature drying Breakage susceptibility – hybrids differ in amount of fine material generated during handling Dry Milling Quality – yield of flaking grits varies among hybrids

Comparison between a Fast versus Slow Drying Corn Hybrid +20%

Potential Project – End Use Quality Traits Initiative Goal: Quantify differences in Corn Hybrid Properties Affecting Conditioning and Processing* Hybrids: Yellow “normal”, Yellow Food Corn, White Corn, High Oil, Waxy, High lysine, Highly fermentable corn Properties Water absorption rate, kernel density, pericarp thickness and structure, germ to endosperm ratio, kernel hardness, kernel dimensions and shape, fiber content, color (proxy for carotenoid) Reduction in Viability caused by High Temperature Drying *Purdue and GMPRC (Manhattan, KS) NC-213 Proposal

Potential Project – Rapid Assessment of Seed Viability and Vigor Goals - Reduce time required for viability testing - Sorting non-viable from Viable seeds Approaches to be investigated: - Respiration monitoring (CO2 or O2:CO2) - NIR of individual kernels for rapid assessment of germ viability - Biochemical Indicators of seed viability

Preliminary Data – Respiration (CO2) Measurements on Individual Kernels Good quality seeds % CO2 in the chamber Seeds subjected to accelerated aging Time (hrs) Note: The distinctions related to accelerated aging are not always this clear. Incubation temperature was 23C.

Potential Projects – Post-Harvest Seed Quality Processing Value of Indiana Soybean and Corn Varieties Impact on producer premiums Corn Properties Affecting Conditioning and Processing Impact on energy use and savings Rapid Assessment of Seed Viability and Vigor Impact on seed inventory management