Viability studies on onion (Allium cepa L.) cv. Punjab Naroya seeds during storage
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Date
2016
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Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana
Abstract
Rapid loss in viability of onion seeds during seed storage is a major problem. In the present
study, seeds of onion (Allium cepa L.) cv. Punjab Naroya harvested in the month of June were
subjected to three post harvest storage procedures, viz; refrigerator storage at (5⁰C; 30% RH)
for 4 months (considered as fresh seeds), room temperature storage for 4 months (stored
seeds) and accelerated aged seeds. Refrigerator stored seeds were subjected to accelerated
ageing at (50º C; 90% RH) for 3, 6, 9 and 12 days respectively. The refrigerated stored seeds
showed maximum germination percentage (94%) while seeds accelerated aged for twelve
days gave least germination percentage (62%). As the duration of ageing increased, there was
a marked reduction in seedling length, fresh and dry weight. All the ageing treatments
resulted in membrane damage, as is evident from higher solute leakage in aged seeds. Besides
physiological changes, significant changes in biochemical parameters were also observed due
to ageing. Increase in ageing duration decreased the activities of enzymes viz; peroxidase,
catalase and α-amylase. There was a reduction in contents of total starch and total soluble
proteins whereas, the total soluble sugars and total free amino acids increased with
accelerated ageing. The amount of ascorbic acid, α-tocopherol and DNA also reduced with
accelerated ageing.
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