EFFECT OF HARVESTING STAGES ON SEED QUALITY IN CHICKPEA (Cicer arietinum L.) VARIETIES 2796
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Date
2019-05
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JAU, JUNAGADH
Abstract
The present investigation was conducted at the Sagdividi Farm, Department of
Seed Science and Technology, College of Agriculture, Junagadh Agricultural
University, Junagadh during rabi 2017-18, with an aim to study the effect of
harvesting stages (H1 = Dark green colour pod stage, H2 = Green to yellow colour pod
stage, H3 = Full yellow colour pod stage, and H4 = Copper brown colour pod stage)
on seed quality in different chickpea varieties (V1 = GG 1, V2 = GG 2, V3 = GJG 3,
V4 = GG 4, V5 = GG 5, and V6 = GG 6) in the field condition as well as during
storage after harvesting. The experiment was laid out in field as per Randomized
Block Design (Factorial) with three replications. The characters viz., fresh weight of
hundred pods (g), dry weight of hundred pods (g), fresh weight of hundred seeds (g),
dry weight of hundred seeds (g) and moisture content (%) of fresh seeds were
recorded in the field. The seeds harvested as per the treatment combinations from the
field experiment were stored in the laboratory for eight months and observations viz.,
moisture content (%), 100 seed weight (g), germination percentage, root length of
seedling (cm), shoot length of seedling (cm), seedling length (cm), seedling fresh
weight (mg), seedling dry weight (mg), seedling vigour index (length), seedling
vigour index (mass) and electrical conductivity of seed leachates (ds/m) were
recorded initially at the time of storage followed by two months interval up to eight
months in the laboratory of the Department of Seed Science and Technology, College
of Agriculture, Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh.
The experimental results revealed that irrespective of harvesting stages,
significantly the highest and lowest fresh and dry weight of hundred pods and fresh
weight of hundred pods were recorded in GG 2 and GG 5, respectively; while dry
weight of hundred seeds was recorded significantly the highest and the lowest in GG2
and GG4, respectively. Relatively the highest moisture content (35.18 %) in fresh
seeds was noted in GJG 3 followed by GG 2 (34.94 %) and GG 4 (34.82 %). The
lowest moisture content was noted in GG 6 (34.44 %). Irrespective of varieties,
significantly the highest fresh weight of hundred pods (55.60 g) and seeds (39.50 g)
was recorded, when seeds harvested at green to yellow colour pod stage (H2).
Significantly the highest (33.51 g and 27.68 g) and the lowest (16.21 g and 7.58 g) dry
weight of hundred pods and seeds were recorded in H3 (full yellow colour pod stage)
and H1 (dark green colour pod stage) harvesting stages, respectively. Among the
different stages of harvest, significantly the maximum (59.95 %) moisture content
was recorded in fresh seeds harvested at dark green colour pod stage (H1) followed by
green to yellow colour pod stage (H2) (42.45 %), while it was noted the minimum Abstract
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(13.13 %) in copper brown colour pod stage (H4). Fresh and dry weight of pods and
moisture content recorded in fresh seeds at the time of harvesting were decreased
significantly with advance in maturity, while dry weight of seeds and pods were
increased up to physiological maturity and then decreased.
Irrespective of the harvesting stages, the moisture content in the seeds, 100
seed weight and electrical conductivity of seed leachates were increased gradually
with increased in storage period, while germination, root length, shoot length,
seedling length, seedling fresh and dry weight, and seedling vigour index (length and
mass) were decreased gradually with increased in storage period. At the time of
storage, the moisture content recorded the highest (8.59 %) in GG 2 and after eight
months of storage, the moisture content, on an average, increased to 2 per cent and it
was noted the maximum (10.57 %) in GG 4. More or less the same results were
observed in 100 seed weight and EC of seed leachates. Germination was recorded the
highest (68.83 %) in GG 5 at the time of storage, but after eight months of storage,
germination was noted the maximum (58.42 %) in GJG 3 and that is in decreasing
order. Seedling vigour index (length and mass) were recorded significantly the highest
(2111.10 and 4222.30) in GG 5 at the time of storage and after eight months of
storage, they were noted the maximum (1204.60 and 2409.20) in GJG 3. For the
remaining traits like, 100 seed weight (25.25 g) in GG 2; root length (5.08 cm), shoot
length (10.38 cm), seedling length (15.47 cm), seedling fresh weight (402.13 mg) and
seedling dry weight (30.93 mg) in GG 6; and electrical conductivity of seed leachates
(1.434 dS/m) in GG 4 recorded the maximum values at the end of 8 months storage.
Irrespective of varieties, the seeds harvested at dark green colour pod stage
(H1) were not germinated at all. Therefore, no any seed quality observations were
recorded. Irrespective of varieties, the moisture content in the seeds, 100 seed weight
and electrical conductivity of leachates were increased gradually with increased in
storage period, while germination, root length, shoot length, seedling length, seedling
fresh and dry weight, and seedling vigour index (length and mass) of seeds harvested
at different stages were decreased gradually with increased in storage period. Initially
at the time of storage, the maximum moisture content (8.70 %) was noted in green to
yellow colour pod stage (H2). After eight months of storage, the moisture content, on
an average, increased to 2 per cent and it was recorded significantly the maximum
(10.61 %) in the same stage. Irrespective of varieties, at the time of storage,
significantly the maximum germination (95.06 %) was recorded in the seeds
harvested at full yellow colour pod stage (H3) and after eight months of storage, same
trend was observed, as significantly the maximum germination (84.67 %) was
recorded in the seeds harvested at full yellow colour pod stage (H3). After eight
months of storage, significantly the maximum 100 seed weight (28.79 g), root length
(7.46 cm), shoot length (14.71 cm), seedling length (22.16 cm), seedling fresh weight
(577.74 mg), seedling dry weight (44.49 mg), seedling vigour index (length)
(1876.78) and seedling vigour index (mass) (3767.28) were recorded in the seeds
harvested at full yellow colour pod stage (H3).
Overall, looking to the seed quality, it could be suggested that for getting the
higher yield and quality of chickpea varieties after eight months of storage, chickpea
seed should be harvested at the H3 (full yellow color pod stage), as the seeds
harvested at full yellow color pod stage recorded the germination percentage (84.67
%) even after eight months of storage with good vigour. For maintaining better
quality up to the next season sowing, seeds could be stored under proper storage
condition, because with increase in storage period, quality of seed deteriorated.