Physiological potential of creole bean seeds subjected to alternative adhesive agents and sururu shell in Alagoas, Brazil

Elda Bonifácio dos Santos, Luan D.F. de Andrade Melo, João L. de A. Melo Junior, Larice B. F. Soares, João C. de Araújo Neto, Vilma Marques Ferreira, Vanuze Costa de Oliveira, Jaqueline F. de O. Costa, Regla T. L. R. Massahud, Erika Elias da Silva

Abstract: Various productive sectors have pursued sustainability, and agriculture is no exception. As a result, studies have been conducted on potential techniques for utilizing waste and enhancing the quality of materials used in plant production. Seed coating is probably the oldest, most economical, and safest measure, offering the best results for improving the physiological aspects of seeds. Lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus L.) belongs to the legume family; its seeds are edible and frequently cultivated as food in various parts of the world. Lima bean cultivation is primarily carried out by family farming in the Northeast of Brazil. In the state of Alagoas, the sururu (Mytella charruana) is found. The collection of this mollusk annually generates about five tons of shell waste in the Mundaú Lagoon, located on the southern coast of Alagoas. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different adhesive agents in the pelleting of creole lima bean seeds with sururu shell powder, analyzing the impact of these treatments on the physiological potential of the seeds. The adhesive materials used for the coating were water, extracts of aloe vera, mandacaru, and prickly pear, as well as cassava gum and polyvinyl acetate-based glue. Immediately after the application of the adhesive agent, the seeds were pelleted with sururu shell powder. The analyzed variables were: Thousand-seed weight, water content, first germination count, germination rate, germination speed index, mean velocity of germination, mean germination time, germination uncertainty, and seedling length and dry mass. The analysis of these variables allowed us to verify that pelleting the Creole lima bean seeds resulted in increased weight of a thousand seeds, mean germination speed, seedling length, and dry mass, as well as decreased mean germination time and germination uncertainty. Concluding, cassava gum is thus the most efficient adhesive agent in pelleting Creole lima bean seeds with sururu shell powder.

Keywords: germination; sustainability; vigor

Citation: dos Santos, E. B., Melo, L. D. F. de A., Junior, J. L. de A. M., Soares, L. B. F., Neto, J. C. de A., Ferreira, V. M., de Oliveira, V. C., Costa, J. F. de O., Massahud, R. T. La R. & da Silva, E. E. (2025). Physiological potential of creole bean seeds subjected to alternative adhesive agents and sururu shell in Alagoas, Brazil. Bulg. J. Agric. Sci., 31(6), 1149–1154

Date published: 2025-12-16