International Journal of Horticulture 2015, Vol.5, No.7, 1
-
5
2
investigation was undertaken to study the effect of
seed treatments and containers on storability of grain
amaranthus.
1 Materials and Methods
In a laboratory experiment the bulk seeds of amaranth
cv. Suvarna were given with the following seed
treatment and were packed in different storage
containers as below after the initial quality evaluations.
1.1 Treatments details
Seed treatments
Storage Containers
Control (untreated)
Cloth bag
Carbendazim @ 2 g kg -1
HDPE bag
Imidacloprid @100 mg kg -1
Aluminium foil pouches
Carbendazim + Imidacloprid @
2 g kg -1 + 100 mg kg -1
Then the seed samples were drawn at tri monthly
intervals in each treatment with 3 replications and
evaluated for the following seed and seedling
characters up to six months to evaluate the storability
of seeds under ambient room condition (25 ±3°C).
1.2 Seed and seedling quality evaluation
Seed samples were drawn in each treatment with 3
replications and evaluated for the following seed and
seedling characters such as moisture content, seed
germination, seedling length and drymatter production
were observed as per ISTA (1999). The seeds size
graded with sieves were also evaluated for protein
content as per (Alikhan and Youngs, 1973) and vigour
index values were computed as per Abdul baki and
Anderson (1973) adopting the following formula as it
is the totality of seed quality characters. Vigour
index = Germination (%) x Total seedling length (cm)
and Electrical conductivity dSm -1
was measured in a
digital conductivity meter with a cell constant of one
and expressed as dSm
-1
(Preseley, 1958).
1.3 Statistical analysis
The data recorded was subjected to factorial complete
randomized design as per standard procedures as
described by Gomez and Gomez (1984).
2 Results and Discussion
The storage of seeds assumes paramount importance
in a seed production programme. Storability of seeds
is determined by wide number of factors
viz.
, period
of storage, initial seed quality, storage environment,
seeds moisture content and seed treatment (Basu and
Rudrapal, 1980). Among these, pre storage seed
treatments and packaging materials had their
pronounced impact on the storability in view of
their protection rendered against the biotic factors
and irreversible deterioration (Burris 2002). In pre
storage seed treatment, pesticide and ecofriendly
products are fetching importance on extended utility
as seed.
Hence the present study evaluated on the influence of
seed treatments and containers on physiological and
biochemical seed quality parameters of grain
amaranthus. The moisture content of the seeds plays a
prime role in determination of storability of any seed
and it increased with advances in storage period
(Copeland and Mcdonald, 1995). But in the present
study a non significant difference was noticed
between containers, treatments and durations of
storage which might be due to the shorter period of
storage, 6 months (Table 1). The superiority of poly
laminated aluminium foil pouches in maintaining
higher germination (94 per cent) followed in storage
was due to its moisture vapour proof nature which
besides offering protection against invasion of
pathogen and insects.
Table 1 Influence of seed treatments and containers on seed moisture content (%) during storage
Pre storage seed treatment
(T)
Container (C) and storage periods in months (P)
Cloth bag
HDPE bag
PLAF bag
0
3
6
Mean 0
3
6
Mean 0
3
6
Mean
Control
9.0
9.2 9.3
9.2
9.0
9.1
9.1
9.1
9.0
9.0 9.1
9.0
Carbendazim @ 2g kg
-1
(A) 9.0
9.2 9.3
9.1
9.0
9.1
9.1
9.0
9.0
9.0 9.0
9.0
Imidacloprid @ 2ml kg
-1
(B)
9.0
9.2 9.2
9.1
9.0
9.1
9.1
9.0
9.0
9.0 9.0
9.0
(A) + (B)
9.0
9.2 9.2
9.1
9.0
9.1
9.1
9.0
9.0
9.0 9.0
9.0
Mean
9.0
9.2 9.3
9.1
9.0
9.1
9.1
9.0
9.0
9.0 9.0
9.0
(T X P)
Control
9.0
9.1 9.2
9.1
Level of significance
Carbendazim @ 2g kg
-1
(A) 9.0
9.1 9.1
9.1
P
C
T
P X C PXT T X C PX CxT
Imidacloprid @2ml kg
-1
(B)
9.0
9.1 9.1
9.1
SEd
0.055 0.055 0.064 0.096 0.111 0.111 0.192
(A) + (B)
9.0
9.1 9.1
9.1
CD (P=0.05) NS
NS
NS
NS
NS NS
NS
Mean
9.0
9.1 9.1
9.1
Note: * HDPE - High Density Poly Ethylene bag; * PLAF- Poly Laminated Aluminium Foil Pouches
