Vol. 11, Issue 11 (2022)

Author(s):
Sonali Mallick, Simanta Mohanty, Sumita Das, Jayanta Kumar Beura and Godavari Bhavani Naga Jyothi

Abstract:
An investigation was undertaken in the Seed Physiology Laboratory of Department of Seed Science and Technology, College of Agriculture, OUAT, Bhubaneswar. Freshly harvested seeds of groundnut cv. ICGV-91114 (Rabi 2017-18 produced seed) were coated with five different polymer coatings, viz., Little’s Polykote Yellow^TM, Methyl cellulose, Ethyl cellulose, Methyl vinyl acetate and Polyvinyl pyrollidone, each at two doses ^{- 3} ml kg^-1 seed and 4 ml kg^-1 seed. Uncoated pods and uncoated kernels were also taken for comparison. The storage experiment was laid out in Completely Randomised Design with three replications. The coated seeds were stored under ambient conditions in cloth bags from June 2018 to December 2018. Observations on seed physiological quality and biochemical parameters were recorded at monthly intervals. The seed coating treatments were effective in reducing the rate of imbibition as well as restricting entry of moisture from the atmosphere. The % increase in seed moisture content was relatively higher in the uncoated pods and kernels compared to all the coating treatments. In all the coating treatments, seed moisture content remained below the MSCS (9% maximum) even after 6 months storage, whereas in the uncoated pods or kernels, the seed moisture content was raised above MSCS during this period. Seed germination and vigour parameters, viz., seed vigour indices, germination after AA and field emergence, remained high in the coated seeds even after 6 months storage under ambient conditions in cloth bags. All the coated seeds maintained germinability above MSCS (70%) even after 6 months storage. The coated seeds also maintained higher dehydrogenase and α-amylase activity, compared to the uncoated pods or kernels. There was minimum decline in oil and protein content of seeds over the storage period. Among the treatments, Methyl cellulose and Polyvinyl pyrollidone at 3 to 4 ml per kg seed were found most effective in improving the storability of groundnut seeds under ambient conditions in cloth bags. The seeds coated with these two polymers maintained germinability in the range of 74.77 to 76.47% after 6 months storage. The polymer coating technique can be used, especially for Rabi harvested groundnut seeds stored during the monsoon season for the next Rabi sowing with appreciable germination and vigour levels.