Vol. 10, Issue 10 (2021)

Author(s):
Madhan K, K Raja, A Lakshmanan, M Kannan, M Karthikeyan and S Ashoknarayanan

Abstract:
A study on curcumin seed invigoration for extending the storability of blackgram seeds under accelerated ageing was undertaken during 2021. Genetically pure seeds of blackgram (VBN 8) were treated with curcumin at different concentrations viz., 20,40,60,80,100 and 120 mg per kg. The treated seeds were subjected to accelerated ageing for 10 days. Every day of accelerated ageing, required quantity (50-100g) of seed samples were drawn and tested for physiological and biochemical seed quality attributes. The results revealed that the seeds invigorated with curcumin at 80 mg per kg of seeds significantly registered higher germination (66%), root (11.3cm) and shoot length (16.3cm) seedling vigour index I (1813) and II (12), alpha amylase (0.97µmol starch hydrolysed min-1 mg-1 protein) and dehydrogenase (1.642 OD value) enzymes activity. Overall results of this study conclude that blackgram seeds invigorated with curcumin at 80 mg per kg excelled the other treatments, irrespective of the accelerated ageing period.