**4. Camouflaging on the seed treatment machines**

In commercial scales plantations there are large quantities of seeds treated with pesticides such as carbofuran and carbosulfan. Machines made specifically for this purpose are usually used. Aiming to test the compatibility of these machines to camouflage seed, tests were carried out during seven experiments of planting described in Almeida et al. (2010a) and Almeida & Almeida (in press). In these tests, dyes were added to the carbofuran syrup with or without Rhodamine B, since in certain circumstances, the syrup of carbofuran is found only on sale together with Rhodamine B. More recently, an eighth test was conducted with the objective to test dyes proportions in a new treatment machine, made by another enterprise.

The results of all tests were subjected to visual inspection, observing subsequent drying to coloring, assemblage, texture and adhesion of seeds.

In all seven initial tests, the process of seeds concealment of with powdered or liquid dye was carried out with ease, there were no problems operating the machines by FMC, bad seed coating or agglutination due to the presence of camouflage dyes, except for carbosulfan liquid syrup manufactured by FMC (Marshal 25 ST Brown). This syrup presented showed an irregular coating at a rate of 3 kg of the syrup to 100 kg of seeds, being necessary to increase the amount of dye syrup to 5 kg, to have more homogeneity in seeds coverage. The use of camouflage made with powdered dyes was more frequent and was obtained using 4 kg of powder to 100 kg of seeds.

The latest tests were performed in June 2002 using the Fersol company machine (Figure 18) that worked best with the proportion of 1.5 liters to 2 liters of a solution of carbofuran syrup with Rhodamine B, and 1.9 kg of powdered dye to 20 kg of seeds.

6 7 8 12 11 4 3 10 9 2 1 5 i i i i ii iii iv v vi vii viii ix Fig. 17. Variation of the germination averages of corn treatments in five days. Arabic figures represent treatments according to Table 5. Roman figures represent decreasing ranking of the seedlings number. Treatment averages united to bars are equal to 5% of significance

Components that may have inhibited germination in two days were: i) soil associated with carbofuran syrup (treatment 12); i) soil and carbofuran syrup (treatment 9), i) carbofuran syrup and fungicide (treatments 2, 5, 10), iv) dye powder and carbofuran syrup (treatment

With over three days in a germination chamber, the analysis model of variance suggests that the heterogeneity increased (H = 36.74, p = 0.0001, df = 11), with the segregation of three distinct groups (Figure 17). The best averages germination were obtained in the absence of the fungicide and the carbofuran syrup, which inhibited the emergence of the seed embryo, respectively in the first and second scale, in the fifth day at the germination chamber. The

In commercial scales plantations there are large quantities of seeds treated with pesticides such as carbofuran and carbosulfan. Machines made specifically for this purpose are usually used. Aiming to test the compatibility of these machines to camouflage seed, tests were carried out during seven experiments of planting described in Almeida et al. (2010a) and Almeida & Almeida (in press). In these tests, dyes were added to the carbofuran syrup with or without Rhodamine B, since in certain circumstances, the syrup of carbofuran is found only on sale together with Rhodamine B. More recently, an eighth test was conducted with the objective to test dyes proportions in a new treatment machine, made by another

The results of all tests were subjected to visual inspection, observing subsequent drying to

In all seven initial tests, the process of seeds concealment of with powdered or liquid dye was carried out with ease, there were no problems operating the machines by FMC, bad seed coating or agglutination due to the presence of camouflage dyes, except for carbosulfan liquid syrup manufactured by FMC (Marshal 25 ST Brown). This syrup presented showed an irregular coating at a rate of 3 kg of the syrup to 100 kg of seeds, being necessary to increase the amount of dye syrup to 5 kg, to have more homogeneity in seeds coverage. The use of camouflage made with powdered dyes was more frequent and was obtained using 4

The latest tests were performed in June 2002 using the Fersol company machine (Figure 18) that worked best with the proportion of 1.5 liters to 2 liters of a solution of carbofuran syrup

dye powder, liquid dye and glue did not inhibit the corn germination.

**4. Camouflaging on the seed treatment machines** 

coloring, assemblage, texture and adhesion of seeds.

with Rhodamine B, and 1.9 kg of powdered dye to 20 kg of seeds.

kg of powder to 100 kg of seeds.

level.

11).

enterprise.

Fig. 18. Seed treatment machine, used to test the application of camouflage in corn seeds. On the floor, in plastic sacks, results of three tests of camouflage by varying the amount of carbofuran syrup, dye powder and water.

Evidently, the color is an important aspect for the camouflage effectiveness (Hartley et al., 1999, 2000), however the presence of Rhodamine B in the application of the camouflaged coating on a commercial scale impair the obtention of the desired brown shades.

During field removal experiment, camouflaged coats previously with similar colors, shades differ in terms of nuances during the time spent in the field. Nonetheless, there were no differences on removal rates among camouflaged seeds. Apparently it may not be necessary having major similarities of shades between camouflaged seeds and the soil to prevent higher consumption rates (Almeida et al., 2010b). Such observation is supported by Merilaita & Lind (2005), who concluded that the exact similarity of color among the prey and the background is neither enough, nor necessary to minimize the probability of detection by the predator.

In order to have a greater similarity between the camouflage colors and soil, with Rhodamine B in the mixture, it may be necessary to perform two mechanical treatments. First one, to apply carbofuran syrup and when it dries, it proceeds with the camouflaged covers powder or liquids dyes. Once using Carbofuran without Rhodamine B, one can be apply the camouflaged cover concurrently, there being no need for two treatments. Aside from this drawback, the concealment process of seeds is easily obtained using the machines to seed treatment with carbofuran syrup, there being no need for mechanical adjustments.
