**3.3 Camouflaged seeds in germination tests**

## **3.3.1 Seeds camouflaging with powder dye**

This experiment, conducted in January 1982, aimed to assess whether the pigments used in the process of concealment of seed germination are inhibitors of wheat germination, with or without the presence of carbofuran and the fungicide that is applied in the comercialized seeds.

Eight treatments were established:


Camouflage of Seeds, a Control Method of the Bird Mortality in Grain Crops 381

The results of this trial are shown in Table 2 and Figure 15, showing that according to the Kruskal-Wallis test there was heterogeneity (H = 470, p = 0.000, df = 11) on the rice germination under different formulations and formulations combinations of the liquid dye. The germination varied from 92% to 100% on fith day in greenhouse. The grains that less germinated belonged to orange, blue, yellow, and blue + orange + yellow + ocher treatments. This finding prosibly stems from the different composition of organic and inorganic pigments of each dye, which negatively affected the rice germination in the case of

 Treatments Treat *X* % Black 5 49 100 Red 6 49 100 Blue + orange + red + yellow + ocher + carbofuran 8 49 100 Control 12 49 100 Carbofuran 11 48.1 98 Ocher 1 47.04 96 Red + yellow + black 9 47 96 Red + yellow + black + carbofuran 10 47 96 Orange 2 46.06 94 Blue 3 45.1 92 Yellow 4 45.1 92 Blue + orange + red + yellow + ocher + carbofuran 7 45.08 92 Legend: Treat – treatment number; % - Percentage of seed germination; *X* – Germination average

> 5 6 8 12 11 1 9 10 2 3 4 7 i i i i ii iii iii iii iv v v v

Black, red and ocher dyes should be preferred to others in the seeds camouflage, since they don't adversely affect germination. Existing the need for making colors compositions to match the camouflage to the soil, the dyes cited above must be used, as they undo the action of dyes that inhibit germination. This fact could be observed in seed germination of

These new tests started in April 2002, they aimed evaluate whether the ingredients used in the process of improving the camouflage (section 3.1.2.2, Figure 14) would be inhibitors of corn seeds germination. For each treatment, four replicates were prepared with 14 seeds in each container, spaced about 1.5 cm apart. The treatments were based in the Table 3, where

Fig. 15. Variation of the germination average of rice treatments. Arabic figures represent treatments according to Table 2. Roman figures represent decreasing ranking of the seedlings number. Treatments means united to bars are equal to 5% of significance level.

treatments 2, 3, 4 and 7.

Table 2. Effects of liquid dye in the rice germination

treatment 8 (blue + orange + red + yellow + ocher + carbofuran).

can be find the ingredients and proportions for each treatments.

**3.3.3 Improved camouflages** 


For each treatment was prepared two replicates with 49 seeds in each container, spaced about 1.5 cm apart. The filter paper was adequately dampened and the samples were covered with plastic film to retain moisture, and then placed in an incubator at a temperature of 25 ° C. The samples were verified on the fifth day after sowing, when they took an inventory of germinated seeds.

As suggested in Table 1, the powder dye did not cause negative effects on the wheat germination. The experiment suggests the contrary, since it was observed a dark-greenish coloring in the seedlings of 1 to 5 treatments, and also larger seedlings from treatments 4 and 5, probably due to the nutritional action of the iron element contained in the powder dye.


Table 1. Effects of powder dye in the weath germination

#### **3.3.2 Seeds camouflage with liquid dye**

To know the influence of liquid colorants in the germination of rice seeds, the second experiment was done in February 1982, where the pigments used in the process of seeds concealment, with or without the presence of carbofuran were tested. Twelve treatments were established:


For each treatment four replicates were prepared with 49 seeds in each container, spaced about 1.5 cm apart. The filter paper was adequately dampened and the samples were covered with plastic film to keep it damp. Seeds were placed in an incubator at a temperature of 25 ° C. The samples were verified in the second and fifth days after sowing, when they took an inventory of the seeds and subsequent analysis of nonparametric variance.

For each treatment was prepared two replicates with 49 seeds in each container, spaced about 1.5 cm apart. The filter paper was adequately dampened and the samples were covered with plastic film to retain moisture, and then placed in an incubator at a temperature of 25 ° C. The samples were verified on the fifth day after sowing, when they

As suggested in Table 1, the powder dye did not cause negative effects on the wheat germination. The experiment suggests the contrary, since it was observed a dark-greenish coloring in the seedlings of 1 to 5 treatments, and also larger seedlings from treatments 4 and 5, probably due to the nutritional action of the iron element contained in the powder dye.

> Treatments % Blue 100 Red + yellow + fungicide + carbofuran 100 Red + yellow + blue + fungicide + carbofuran 100 Fungicide 100 Control 100 Red 98 Yellow 98 Fungicide + carbofuran 98

To know the influence of liquid colorants in the germination of rice seeds, the second experiment was done in February 1982, where the pigments used in the process of seeds concealment, with or without the presence of carbofuran were tested. Twelve treatments

For each treatment four replicates were prepared with 49 seeds in each container, spaced about 1.5 cm apart. The filter paper was adequately dampened and the samples were covered with plastic film to keep it damp. Seeds were placed in an incubator at a temperature of 25 ° C. The samples were verified in the second and fifth days after sowing, when they took an inventory

iv. Red + yellow powder dye + fungicide + carbofuran. v. Red + yellow + blue powder dye + fungicide + carbofuran.

Table 1. Effects of powder dye in the weath germination

**3.3.2 Seeds camouflage with liquid dye** 

vii. Red, yellow and black liquid dye.

viii. Red, yellow, black liquid dye, and Carbofuran. ix. Blue, orange, yellow and ocher liquid dye.

x. Blue, orange, yellow, ocher liquid dye, and Carbofuran.

of the seeds and subsequent analysis of nonparametric variance.

were established: i. Ocher liquid dye. ii. Orange liquid dye. iii. Blue liquid dye. iv. Yellow liquid dye. v. Black liquid dye vi. Red liquid dye.

xi. Carbofuran. xii. Control.

vi. Fungicide.

viii. Control.

vii. Fungicide and carbofuran.

took an inventory of germinated seeds.

The results of this trial are shown in Table 2 and Figure 15, showing that according to the Kruskal-Wallis test there was heterogeneity (H = 470, p = 0.000, df = 11) on the rice germination under different formulations and formulations combinations of the liquid dye. The germination varied from 92% to 100% on fith day in greenhouse. The grains that less germinated belonged to orange, blue, yellow, and blue + orange + yellow + ocher treatments. This finding prosibly stems from the different composition of organic and inorganic pigments of each dye, which negatively affected the rice germination in the case of treatments 2, 3, 4 and 7.


Legend: Treat – treatment number; % - Percentage of seed germination; *X* – Germination average

Table 2. Effects of liquid dye in the rice germination


Fig. 15. Variation of the germination average of rice treatments. Arabic figures represent treatments according to Table 2. Roman figures represent decreasing ranking of the seedlings number. Treatments means united to bars are equal to 5% of significance level.

Black, red and ocher dyes should be preferred to others in the seeds camouflage, since they don't adversely affect germination. Existing the need for making colors compositions to match the camouflage to the soil, the dyes cited above must be used, as they undo the action of dyes that inhibit germination. This fact could be observed in seed germination of treatment 8 (blue + orange + red + yellow + ocher + carbofuran).

#### **3.3.3 Improved camouflages**

These new tests started in April 2002, they aimed evaluate whether the ingredients used in the process of improving the camouflage (section 3.1.2.2, Figure 14) would be inhibitors of corn seeds germination. For each treatment, four replicates were prepared with 14 seeds in each container, spaced about 1.5 cm apart. The treatments were based in the Table 3, where can be find the ingredients and proportions for each treatments.


Table 3. The best treatments obtained in the material selection for seeds camouflagin, phase 2.

Seeds were placed in an incubator at a temperature of 25°C. The samples were scanned in the second and fifth days after sowing, when an inventory of the seeds and subsequent analysis of nonparametric variance were performed.

In two days in the germination chamber there was heterogeneity (H = 31.29, p = 0.001 df = 11) in the behavior of the tested seeds. Treatments 4, 3, 7 and 8 had the greatest germination average in relation to other, and treatment 8 occupies an intermediate position between these two groups (Table 4, Figure 16).

Camouflage of Seeds, a Control Method of the Bird Mortality in Grain Crops 383

According to Table 4 and Figure 16, the association (or not) of the liquid and the powder to carbofuran syrup, besides the glue, didn't impair seed germination. By contrast, germination was better with these associations in relation to treatment 1 (carbofuran syrup) and 6 (control).

Carbofuran syrup + p. dye + glue + water 4 13.5 96 Carbofuran syrup + p. dye + liq. dye + water 3 11.75 83 P. dye + liq. dye + water 7 11 78 P. dye + glue + water 8 10 71 Carbofuran syrup + p. dye + water + soil 12 8.75 62 Carbofuran syrup + p. dye + glue + water + soil 9 6.5 46 Carbofuran syrup + fungicide 2 5.25 37 Carbofuran syrup 1 4.5 32 Carbofuran syrup + fungicide + p. dye + glue + water 5 3.5 25 Carbofuran syrup + p. dye + water 11 3.5 25 Control 6 3 21 Carbofuran syrup + fungicide + p. dye + liq. dye + water 10 3 21 Legend: Treat – treatment number; % - percentage of germination; *X* – média de germinações; *X* –

Tratamentos Treat *X* %

Probably the nutrient action of the powder pigment, rich in iron, favors this result.

Germination average; P. dye – Powder dye; Liq. dye – Liquid dye

Germination average; P. dye – Powder dye; Liq. dye – Liquid dye

Table 5. Effects of the camouflagin in the corn seeds germination, after five days

Table 4. Effects of camouflagin in the corn seeds germination, after two days

4 3 7 8 12 9 2 1 5 11 6 10 i ii iii iv v vi vii viii ix ix x x Fig. 16. Variation of the germination average of corn treatments in two days. Arabic figures represent treatments according to Table 11. Roman figures represent decreasing ranking of the seedlings number. Treatments means united to bars are equal to 5% of significance level.

Control 6 14 100 P. dye + liq. dye + water 7 14 100 P. dye + glue + water 8 14 100 Carbofuran syrup + p. dye + water + soil 12 14 100 Carbofuran syrup + p. dye + water 11 13,75 98 Carbofuran syrup + p. dye + glue + water 4 13,5 96 Carbofuran syrup + p. dye + liq. dye + water 3 12,75 91 Carbofuran syrup + fungicide + p. dye + liq. dye + water 10 12,5 89 Carbofuran syrup + p. dye + glue + water + soil 9 12,25 87 Carbofuran syrup + fungicide 2 11 78 Carbofuran syrup 1 10,5 75 Carbofuran syrup + fungicide + p. dye + glue + water 5 9,5 67 Legend: Treat – treatment number; % - percentage of germination; X – média de germinações; X –

Tratamentos Trat *X* %

Table 3. The best treatments obtained in the material selection for seeds camouflagin,

**Treatments Powder dye Powder dye Powder dye Liquid dye Syrup Glue Soil Water Corn without carbofuran syrup Brown (g) Red (g) Yellow (g) Brown (ml) (ml) (ml) (g) (ml)** Powder dye, liquid dye and water 0.5 - - 0.5 - - - 2

Powder dye, glue and water 0.5 0.2 - - - 0.2 - 2

Powder dye, syrup and water 1 - - - 2 - - 2

Powder dye, syrup, soil and water 1 - - - 2 - 20 2

Powder dye, liquid dye and water 0.3 0.1 - 0.2 - - - 2

Powder dye, glue and water 0.4 - 0.4 - . 0.2 - 2

Powder dye, glue, soil and water 0.3 0.7 2.6 - . 0.2 10 3

Powder dye, liquid dye and water 0.4 - 0.8 - . 0.2 . 2

Powder dye, liquid dye and water 0.5 - - 0.5 . - . 2

**Corn with carbofuran syrup and fungicida**

analysis of nonparametric variance were performed.

these two groups (Table 4, Figure 16).

Seeds were placed in an incubator at a temperature of 25°C. The samples were scanned in the second and fifth days after sowing, when an inventory of the seeds and subsequent

**Corn with carbofuran syrup**

In two days in the germination chamber there was heterogeneity (H = 31.29, p = 0.001 df = 11) in the behavior of the tested seeds. Treatments 4, 3, 7 and 8 had the greatest germination average in relation to other, and treatment 8 occupies an intermediate position between

phase 2.

According to Table 4 and Figure 16, the association (or not) of the liquid and the powder to carbofuran syrup, besides the glue, didn't impair seed germination. By contrast, germination was better with these associations in relation to treatment 1 (carbofuran syrup) and 6 (control). Probably the nutrient action of the powder pigment, rich in iron, favors this result.


Legend: Treat – treatment number; % - percentage of germination; *X* – média de germinações; *X* – Germination average; P. dye – Powder dye; Liq. dye – Liquid dye

Table 4. Effects of camouflagin in the corn seeds germination, after two days


Fig. 16. Variation of the germination average of corn treatments in two days. Arabic figures represent treatments according to Table 11. Roman figures represent decreasing ranking of the seedlings number. Treatments means united to bars are equal to 5% of significance level.


Legend: Treat – treatment number; % - percentage of germination; X – média de germinações; X – Germination average; P. dye – Powder dye; Liq. dye – Liquid dye

Table 5. Effects of the camouflagin in the corn seeds germination, after five days

Camouflage of Seeds, a Control Method of the Bird Mortality in Grain Crops 385

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

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

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

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.

Improved camouflage prototypes, whose ingredients were evaluated in Section 3.1.2.2, were tested for germination (section 3.2.3), regarding the seeds removal by birds in agricultural field (described in section 2, Almeida et al. 2010b) and then using this same experiment, the performance of these prototypes will be discussed, regarding the response of the

coating on a commercial scale impair the obtention of the desired brown shades.

**5. Discussing on the field performance of the prototypes** 

carbofuran syrup, dye powder and water.

detection by the predator.

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 level.

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 11).

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