Effect of Storage Conditions and Containers on Storability of Pole Type Frenchbean cv. Arka Sukomal

Abstract

Background: Maintenance of seed quality in storage is important without losing its living entity against biotic and abiotic stress. Arka Sukomal seeds are protein rich and include other nutrient composition which is required for seed germination and seedling establishment. There is a need to minimise the deterioration of cellular structure and biochemical compounds by adopting suitable storage conditions and containers. Methods: The laboratory experiment was carried out to identify the suitable storage conditions and containers on seed quality parameters. The seeds were stored in four different containers viz., cloth bag, polythene bag, super grain bag and poly-lined aluminium pouch at ambient and at controlled condition (15oC). The observations were recorded bimonthly up to fourteen months. Result: The results showed that seeds in poly-lined aluminium pouch at controlled conditions had shown better quality parameters like lower moisture content (7.70%), higher seed germination (93.58%), more increased seedling vigour index II (5316) and low electrical conductivity of seed leachate (0.437 dS m-1) whereas it was lower in cloth bag at ambient condition (10.40%, 80.67%, 3611 and 0.649 dS m-1, respectively) at the end of storage period. Hence, the viability and vigour of seeds could be maintained better by storing in moisture impervious containers (poly-lined aluminium pouch and polythene bag) at the controlled condition, which is cost-effective and easily adaptable.