Effects of temperature, cultivar, and storage duration of rice on physiological parameters and head rice yield

Reducing rice post-harvest losses is a global demand. This study evaluated the effects of rice storage time (initial, 30, 60, 90, 120, and 150 d), temperature (15, 20, 25, and 30 °C), and cultivar (IRGA 424, IRGA 424RI, and IRGA 431CL) on physiological properties and head rice yield. Moisture, germination, vigor, electrical conductivity, thousand-grain weight, head rice yield, and colorimetric profile were analyzed. IRGA 424 was more susceptible to the parameters evaluated, through the increase in electrical conductivity and reduction in vigor, while IRGA 431CL showed greater reductions in whole grain yield as a function of increasing storage time and temperature. In general, the temperature of 15°C is the most suitable for maintaining the quality parameters evaluated in this study. Storage at 15 °C allowed for the maintenance of the physiological quality of the seeds, the best head rice yield, and the least change in the color profile when compared to those at higher temperatures (25 and 30 °C).