Seed quality assessment in naturally aged seeds of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum L.)
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Date
2013
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Publisher
CCSHAU
Abstract
Seed quality plays an important role in the crop establishment and overall performance of the crop .The
present investigation was carried out on fenugreek seeds having eleven genotypes viz., HM-247, HM-257, HM-273, HM-292, HM-444, HM-548, HM-552, RMt-1, UM-305, Hisar Mukta, Hisar Swarna. Four seed lots of each
genotype included the freshly harvested, one year old, two year old and three year old seeds stored under ambient
conditions. All the eleven genotypes of fenugreek having diversity in seed size and colour were taken to evaluate
the seed viability/vigour parameters, to determine the inter-relationship between laboratory and field parameters, to
assess the efficacy of different seed vigour tests as a predictor of field potential and to determine the speed of
germination. All the seed lots were subjected to various viability, vigour tests with three replications, and
observations were recorded on standard germination, seedling length, seedling fresh weight, seedling dry weight,
vigour index-I, vigour index-II, seed weight, electrical conductivity, dehydrogenase activity, tetrazolium test,pH
exudates test, accelerated ageing test, field emergence and field emergence index.
It was observed that freshly harvested seed lot showed highest mean value for all the parameters except
electrical conductivity. Among the genotypes HM-247, HM-292 and HM-548 were observed to be superior for
seedling length, seedling dry weight, seedling fresh weight, vigour index-I, vigour index-II, dehydrogenase activity
and tetrazolium tests. The genotypes which could bear larger stress reduced more formazan and vice versa. Simple
correlation studies indicated that all the viability and vigour parameters (except test weight and seedling length)
were positively associated among themselves. Higher the values of above said parameters, better was the seed
quality and vice-versa. Electrical conductivity test showed negative association with seed quality indicating the
status of membrane integrity. Genotypes HM-548, HM-292, HM-247 show better performance under laboratory as
well as field conditions than other genotypes. . The genotype UM-305 was found to be inferior for test weight,
standard germination, dry weight, vigour index-I, vigour index-II, dehydrogenase activity test, tetrazolium test
Description
Keywords
Fenugreek, natural ageing, seed quality, germination, ambient conditions, vigour, viability, accelerated ageing , electrical conductivity, field emergence, correlation.