THE BROOMRAPE EFFECT ON SOME PHYSICAL AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF SUNFLOWER SEEDS. Maria DUCA, Aliona GLIJIN 1 * Introduction

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1 Analele Ştiinţifice ale Universităţii Al. I. Cuza Iaşi s. II a. Biologie vegetală, 2013, 59, 2: ISSN: , E-ISSN: THE BROOMRAPE EFFECT ON SOME PHYSICAL AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF SUNFLOWER SEEDS Maria DUCA, Aliona GLIJIN 1 * Abstract: In infested fields Orobanche causes severe yield and quality losses. Heavy infestations can cause >50% reduction in yields and severe quality losses. In this study, several commercial sunflower hybrids were analyzed in order to identify modifications of some physical properties of sunflower seeds induced by natural infestation with broomrape. The measured parameters were linear dimensions, thousand grain mass, geometric mean diameter, sphericity, surface and projected area, volume, shape parameters using standard methods. Broomrape infection showed direct consequences on studied properties of sunflower seeds: length (- 4,0%), width (- 7,7%), thickness (- 8,3%), geometric mean diameter (- 6,8%), sphericity (- 2,9%), surface area (- 12,7%), projected area (- 11,2%), volume (- 17,9%), flakiness ratio (- 0,5%), elongation ratio (+ 4,6%), aspect ratio (- 3,9%). The most affected were 1000-grains weight (- 20,1%) and mass of 1000 kernels (- 20,7%). Key words: broomrape, sunflower, infestation, physical properties of seeds. Introduction Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) is an important oil seed crop of the world and it ranks third in production next to groundnut and soybean (Byrareddy, 2008; Satish and Shrivastava, 2012). The importance of sunflower as source of edible oil and high quality protein is continuously increasing. Sunflower plays an important role in human nutrition (Evans and Bandemer, 1967). Seeds of sunflower are mainly used for their oil content, which accounts for 80% of the value of the sunflower crop. At the same time, there is an increasing interest in the use of sunflower protein in human nutrition (Žilić et al., 2010). Sunflower seeds contain ~ 20% of protein; whereas protein contents of the oil press cakes and extraction residues range from 30 to 50% (Dorrell and Vick, 1997). Sunflower kernel and its defatted meal have several advantages over other oilseed meal as human protein food, because of the absence of anti nutritional or toxic factors, flavor and of its high digestibility and biological value (Clandinin, 1958). Sunflower seeds are excellent source of dietary fiber, protein, vitamin E, B vitamins, and minerals such as potassium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, selenium, calcium and zinc. Some physical and mechanical properties of sunflower seed and kernel are considered to be necessary for designing of equipment of handling, conveying, separation, dehulling, drying, mechanical expression of oil, storage and other processes (Kachru and Rai, 1993; Sahebeh Jafari et al., 2011). The yield stability and the agronomic and economic efficiency of sunflower cultivation depend on the influence of genotype, the level of applied technology, and the presence of an important number of diseases caused by the attack of parasitic pathogens. More than 30 diseases have been identified on sunflower (Gulya et al., 1994). Broomrape and some weeds are important problems in the sunflower production. The broomrape s 1 * University Molecular Biology Center, University of Academy of Sciences of Moldova, 3/2, Academiei Street, MD-2028, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova; aglijin@yahoo.com (corresponding author)

2 virulence increased significantly in the last two decades due to a short crop rotation and the use of non-resistant sunflower hybrids, causing a loss of yield and oil production (Pricop and Cristea, 2012). Several researchers reported some physical and/or mechanical properties of different seeds (Aktas T. et al., 2007; Joshi et al., 1993; Makanjuola, 1972; Ogunjimi et al., 2002; Omobuwajo et al., 1999; Razavi and Milani, 2006; Sahebeh et al., 2011). Despite of extensive searches on physical and mechanical of different agricultural seeds, insufficient published literature is available about physical and mechanical properties of sunflower seeds and their dependency on biotic and/or abiotic factors. This study is focused on determination of O. cumana influence on mechanical properties of sunflower seeds. Materials and methods Eleven commercial sunflower hybrids (HIT 09; H 1; Performer; HN 2; HN 3; HN 4; HL 1; Alex; NS5; NS 6; HRI 3) have been tested in fields (naturally infestation with broomrape). Seeds were obtained from National Agricultural Research and Development Institute, Fundulea, Romania and other European Sunflower Seed companies. The investigations were carried out at Institute of Genetics and Plant Physiology of Academy of Sciences of Moldova (Latitude N, Longitude E and Altitude 39 m above sea level). Biological material used in this research was obtained after preparing of natural field test for determining the resistance to broomrape and for some hybrids, the effectivity of IMI herbicide-pulsar used to control weeds in sunflower, as well as, broomrape parasite. The experimental nonirrigated field (0,5 hectare) in Chisinau, Republic of Moldova, August 25-27, For each hybrid was planted 4 rows with 26 m length. The distance between rows was 70 cm and between plants was 35 cm. Seeds were sown to a depth of 5 8 cm. Crop was planted manually in last week of April of The plants were harvested at maturity, and grain yield was obtained by harvesting the middle two rows of each plot. The seeds were cleaned manually to remove extra matters, along with broken and immature seeds. All the physical and mechanical properties measurements were taken at room temperature of about o C. To determine the mechanical properties of seeds and kernels, 30 seeds from each plant (three plans for each hybrid) were randomly selected. The length, width and thickness were measured in three mutually perpendicular directions using a micrometer gauge reading to 0,001 mm. Several investigators (Shepherd and Bhardwaj, 1986; Dutta et al., 1988; Joshi et al., 1993; Mohsenin, 1980; Singh and Goswami, 1996; Deshpande and Ojha, 1993; Sahebeh et al., 2011) have measured these dimensions for other grains and seeds in a similar manner to determine size and shape properties. The geometric mean diameter (Dgof seeds was calculated by using the following equations respectively (Mohsenin, 1986; Gupta and Das, 1997; Aydin C., 2003): LWT 1/ 3 Dg (1) Where L is the length, W is the width and T is the thickness all in mm. The criterion used to describe the shape of sunflower seed was sphericity (φ). This parameter was determined using the following formula (Mohsenin, 1986): 76

3 LDT L 1/ 3 (2) 100 The surface area, S, was found by the following equation given by McCabe et al. (1986): 2 S Dg (3) The projected area of the seeds, A P, was determined by the equation given by Gupta and Das (1997): Ap LW (4) 4 The volume, V, of the seeds in mm3 were determined by the following equation given by Ozarslan (2002) and Abalone et al. (2004): V 3 6 Dg (5) The shape parameters (flakiness ratio, Fr, and elongation ratio, Er) of each single sunflower seed were determined using the following equations (Mora and Kwan, 2000): T Fr (6) W L Er (7) W The aspect ratio (Ra) was calculated using the next relationship (Khodabakhshian et al., 2010): W Ra (8) L For obtaining thousand seeds weight (TGW), 100 seeds weighted in an electronic balance with an accuracy of 0,001g and then multiplied by 10 to give mass of 1000 seeds. Obtained data were statistically analyzed (in Proteomics Laboratory of the University Molecular Biology Center) using standard methods (Dospehov, 1985). Results and discussions The knowledge of geometrical properties including shape, size (dimensions), geometric mean diameter, arithmetic mean diameter, equivalent diameter, sphericity and surface area are essential for the design of separating, handling, sorting, sizing, drying, dehulling and processing equipment. For example, the size and shape of seeds are important for either their electrostatic separation from undesirable materials or the development of sizing and sorting machinery. The identification of seed shape could also be important for an analytical prediction of its drying behavior (Izli et al., 2009; Khodabakhshian et al., 2010). The mean values of length, width, thickness of the sunflower seeds are shown in Figure 1. The seeds from Performer hybrid were found to have the highest values of length 77

4 (12,1 mm), width (5,9 mm) and thickness (3,8 mm) at control and infected plants (10,8 mm / 3,6 mm / 5,5 mm respectively). Figure 1. Seed Length, Width and Thickness of different hybrids (1 HIT 09; 2 H 1; 3 Performer; 4 HN 2; 5 HN 3; 6 HN 4; 7 HL 1; 8 Alex; 9 NS 5; 10 NS 6; 11 HRI 3) Broomrape infection showed direct influence on seed size: - 4,0% in the length, - 7,7% in the width and 8,3% in the thickness of sunflower seeds. The most affected variety was found in HRI 3 of broomrape stress. Our study also indicated that the bigger number of broomrape flower-bearing stems per infected plant (average value 33) was reported in the same very sensitive HRI 3 hybrid. The importance of these and other characteristic axial dimensions in determining aperture sizes and other parameters in machine design have been discussed by Mohsenin (1978) and highlighted lately by Omobuwajo et al. (2000). Geometric mean diameter, surface area and volume as function of size and variety at sunflower under broomrape attack have not been investigated yet. 78

5 Figure 2. Some engineering properties of sunflower seeds (1 HIT 09; 2 H 1; 3 Performer; 4 HN 2; 5 HN 3; 6 HN 4; 7 HL 1; 8 Alex; 9 NS 5; 10 NS 6; 11 HRI 3) The effect of O. cumana on diameter, sphericity, surface area, projected area and volume is presented in Figure 2. The analyses indicated that in most cases, broomrape stress influenced negatively the mentioned engineering properties of sunflower seeds. The range of seed diameter at control genotypes was found to be 5,2 mm (HIT 09) to 6,5 mm (Performer), while in the mean of seeds under broomrape stress, the range of this parameter was 4,8 mm (HRI 3) to 5,9 mm (Performer). 79

6 The surface area is a relevant tool in determining the share of the seeds. This could be an indication of the way the seeds would behave on oscillating surfaces during processing as reported by Alonge and Adigun (1999). The maximum value for surface area was found at Performer control genotype (132, 8 mm 2 ). The minimum value for this property was found at HRI 3 infested hybrid (73,6 mm 2 ). The same regularity was observed for seed volume (Fig. 2). Sphericity (exception Performer genotype) and projected area for all genotypes were affected negatively by broomrape, but not significant. Broomrape infection showed no significant effects on flakiness ratio and aspect ratio in almost genotypes. The highest physical properties value of sunflower hybrids studied were found in non-infested plants (Fig. 3). Seed elongation ratio was positively influenced by O. cumana (exception Performer genotype). Figure 3. Some engineering properties of sunflower seeds (1 HIT 09; 2 H 1; 3 Performer; 4 HN 2; 5 HN 3; 6 HN 4; 7 HL 1; 8 Alex; 9 NS 5; 10 NS 6; 11 HRI 3) 80

7 The seed mass and kernels obtained from non-infected and infected sunflower plants are presented in Figure 4. At the control plants the highest 1000-grains weight recorded at Performer genotype (89 g), while the lowest values of this trait obtained from the HIT 09 (41,8 g) and HN 2 (49 g). Variance analysis of data indicated that infection had statistically significant effects on mass of 1000 seeds (average value 20,1%). The most affected hybrid was HRI 3 (- 37,8%). Similar results were observed in mass of 1000 kernels. As seen in Figure 4, maximum value for this trait was determined at Performer hybrid (69,0 g). The most affected by O. cumana (- 36,9%) was the same genotype (HRI 3). Figure 4. Mass of seed and kernels of different sunflower hybrids (1 - HIT 09; 2 - H 1; 3 - Performer; 4 - HN 2; 5 - HN 3; 6 - HN 4; 7 - HL 1; 8 - Alex; 9 - NS 5; 10 - NS 6; 11 - HRI 3) Conclusions Based on the results, the present study demonstrated that the highest physical properties value (exception is elongation ratio) of all sunflower hybrids studied were found in non-infested plants. The various properties measured will serve as a useful tool in process and equipment design and this will go a long way in assisting to improve yield and quality of sunflower seeds. Our results showed that majority studied properties of sunflower seeds depend on broomrape attack. According to Oraki et al. (2011) various physical properties of seeds and their fractions are dependent on environmental condition and genotype, and appear to be important in the design of handling and processing equipment. Thus, a better knowledge of 81

8 the response to broomrape stress in sunflower cultivars and its effect on physical and mechanical properties of seeds would allow identifying the detailed reaction of different genotype and would provide suitable information for the improvement of sunflower by selection and design of adapted equipment. In conclusion, this report studied the effect of Orobanche cumana Wallr. on the engineering properties of some sunflower hybrids, providing useful data to improve the performance of oil and protein extraction processes from the selection of suitable strategies for handling hybrids with different structural characteristics. Acknowledgements We express our appreciation to the National Agricultural Research and Development Institute, Fundulea, Romania and other European Sunflower Seed Producers, for providing sunflower hybrid seeds. We would like to thank S. C. Timac AGRO România S. R. L. which provided us the Fertilizer used in our experiments. REFERENCES Abalone, R., Cassinera, A., Gaston, A., Lara, M.A., Some Physical Properties of Amaranth Seeds. Biosystems Eng. 89, 1: Aktas, T., Polat, R., Atay, U., Comparison of mechanical properties of some selected almond cultivars with hard and soft shell under compression loading. J. Food Proc. Eng. 30: Alonge, A.F., Adigun, Y.J., Some physical and aerodynamic properties of sorghum as related to cleaning. Paper presented at the 21st annual conference of the Nigerian society of agricultural engineers (NSAE). Federal Polytechnic Bauchi, Nigeria. Aydin, C., Physical properties of almond nut and kernel. J. Food Eng. 60: Byrareddy, K., Uppar, D.S., Vyakaranahal, B.S., Hiremath, S.M., Ravi H., Nadaf, H.L., Effect of integrated nutrient management on sunflower hybrid (KBSH-1) seed production. Karnataka J. Agri. Sci. 21, 2: Clandinin, D. R., Sunflower seed Oil Meal. In Altschul, A.M. (Ed.) Processed Plant Protein, Food-stuff, Academic Press, New York. 30, 16: Deshpande, S.D., Ojha, T.P., Physical properties of soybean. J. Agric. Eng. Res. 56: Dorrell, D.G., Vick, B.A., Properties and processing of oilseed sunflower. In: Schneiter, A.A. (Eds.), Sunflower technology and production American Society of Agronomy, Madison, Wisconsin: Dospehov, A., Metodi polevovo opita. Moscva: Agropromizdat, 351 p. Dutta, S.K., Nema, V.K., Bhardwaj, R.K., Physical properties of gram. J. Agric. Eng. Res. 39: Evans, R.J., Bandemer, S.L., Nutritive value of some oil seed protein. Cereal Chemistry 44, 3: Gulya, T., Berlin, N., Lamey, A., Sunflower diseases. In Berjlund, D.R. (Ed.): Sunflower Production Ext. Bulletin. North Dakota Agric. Experiment Station and North Dakota State Univ.: Gupta, R.K., Das, S.K., Physical properties of sunflower seeds. J. Food Eng. 66: 1-8. Gupta, R.K., Gopika, A., Sharma, R., Aerodynamic properties of sunflower seed (Helianthus annuus L.). J. Food Eng. 79, 3: Izli, N., Unal, H., Sincik, M., Physical and mechanical properties of rapeseed at different moisture content. International Agrophysics 23, 2: Joshi, D.C., Das, S.K., Mukherjee, R.K., Physical properties of pumpkin seed. J. Agric. Eng. Res. 54: Kachru, R.P., Rai, D.R., Physical constituents and some engineering properties of peanut pods. J. Oilseeds Res. 10: Khodabakhshian, R., Emadi, B., Abbaspour, Fard, M.H., Comparison of Geometrical Properties of Sunflower Seeds and Kernels Cultivars. World Applied Sciences Journal 9, 4: Makanjuola, G.A., A study of some of the physical properties of melon seeds. J. Agric.l Eng. Res. 17:

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