The objective of this work was to evaluate the physiological quality and possible moisture gradients in seeds of sorghum BR 601, during storage. Samples from a vertical fixed-bed dryer with a perforated central duct and radial air distribution were used. In the dryer, the sample points were located at 0.10, 0.30 and 0.50 m distances in relation to the lateral of the central air duct. A composite sample was also collected and used as the control in relation to the others, at the respective heights. These sampling procedures were followed at heights of 0.85; 2.02 and 3.64 m from the dryer base. Within each height and distance relative to the air duct, the collected samples were stored during nine months and evaluated for germination and vigor. At the third, sixth and ninth months after storage, the samples were evaluated for possible differences in quality and seed moisture gradient in comparison to the composite sample. No differences were observed in the physiological quality of the seeds from either different heights or distances relative to the hot-air central duct, in comparison to the composite sample, during the storage time. In general, seed vigor diminished with time while the decreasing quality was most evident in a cold test, conducted after nine months of storage.
storage; quality; seeds; Sorghum bicolor L
