Hard Seed, Seed Quality and Chemical Composition of Mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek] and Black Gram [Vigna mungo (L.)] in Dry and Late Rainy Seasons

Abstract

: Hard seed is an important problem in mungbean sprouting industry and processing of mungbean products. Quantitative determination of hard seeds in the major planting area of mungbean and black gram in Thailand have not been reported. Thus, the objective of this research is to measure and analyze correlation of hard seeds, seed quality, and chemical composition of mungbean and black gram produced by local farmers in the major planting area of Thailand in dry and late rainy seasons. A total of 121 mungbean samples produced by farmers were collected from 10 provinces of the lower north and the upper central of Thailand in 2017. The results showed that the percentage of hard seeds in samples of black gram were higher than mungbean for the both seasons. The averages of hard seed in mungbean samples from dry and late rainy season were 0.21 and 1.72%, respectively while those of black gram samples were 5.35 and 23.36%, repectively. Seed quality of mungbean and black gram seeds produced in the dry season were higher than those in the late rainy season. Similarly, protein and carbohydrate contents of mungbean seeds produced in the dry season were higher than those in the late rainy season but the chemical composition of black gram seeds from the both seasons were not different. Hard seed had the highest negative correlation with 100 seed weight (r=-0.60) and significantly postitive correlation with fiber (r = 0.25) and ash (r = 0.25).