Sucheta SharmaRicha Ahuja2017-06-202017-06-202012http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810021974The present investigation was undertaken to study percent hardseededness, seed coat constituents and variation in the biochemical composition of cotyledonary tissue of 10 Vigna species viz., SML832, PAU911, SML668, ML818, MASH218, MASH1008, MASH338, MASH114, RBL1 and RBL6. Seeds from these Vigna species were stored in cloth bags for 180 days at room temperature and the effect of storage period on germinability, vigor index and chemical composition of seeds was studied. The % hardseededness in different Vigna species varied from 14-82% at 24 h and 8-68% after 48 h soaking period. The % hardseededness in different Vigna species decreased with storage of seeds upto 180 days under ambient conditions. The seed coats of hard lines contained higher cellulose and hemicellulose content as compared to those from soft lines. There was non-significant variation in the % neutral detergent fiber, % acid detergent fiber and tannin content in seed coats and total soluble sugars, reducing sugars, phenols and phytate content in the cotyledonary tissue of these Vigna species. However, total lipid content varied significantly. At harvest, the germination % and vigor index values were higher in soft lines as compared to hard lines. The germination % and vigor index values in hard lines increased with the storage period upto 180 days. Lipid peroxidation values increased significantly with storage period in seeds of various Vigna species studied whereas catalase and peroxidase activities decreased. The total lipid content in seeds of all the Vigna species decreased whereas phenolic content increased with the storage period. The results of the present study suggests that although the % hardseededness in different Vigna species decreases with increasing storage period but the seed deterioration occurs with the passage of time.ennullThesis