KURDIKERI, Dr. M.B.VISHWA PRASAD, M.2019-10-242019-10-241998-08-19Th-4959http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810132813An investigation was carriedout to study the effect of seed colouring on field performance and seed storability in hybrid maize during 1996-97 at Department of Seed Science and Technology, U.A.S., Dharwad. Seeds were treated with.four dyes viz., Amaranthus red, Sunset yellow, Methylene blue and Potassium permanganate each at three concentrations of 0.0, 0,5 and 1.0 per cent in combination with or without fungicide and seeds were stored for 16 months in cloth bag under ambient conditions. Throughout storage period, seeds treated with Amaranthus red and Sunset yellow showed higher germination percentage and vigour index comparedbMethyl blue while seeds treated with Potassium permanganate resulted in drastic reduction of germination and vigour index. Potassium permanganate treated seeds exhibited higher EC values throughout the storage over other dyes. The seed moisture content fluctuated concomitantly with the change in relative humidity and temperature of storage atmosphere. Among dyes, seed treatment with Amaranthus red offered resistance to insect infestation, while potassium permanganate showed least infection of storage fungi during storage^. The germination percentage and vigour index was maximum at 0.5 per cent concentration of dyes, followed by 1.0 per cent and minimum in control. Throughout the storage period, the EC of seed leachate was more in the seeds treated at higher concentration of dyes, while the percentage of insect infestation and occurence of fungi were less at higher concentration. The fungicide treated seeds recorded higher germination percentage and vigour index and less EC, insect infestation and storage fungi infection throughout the storage. The field performance studies with dye treated seeds indicated that there was no adverse effect on field emergence, growth parameters and yield and yield attributes in maize.ennullThesis