seed longevity enhancement techniques in vegetables

1. PUNJAB AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY
LUDHIANA
Seed Production Technology of Vegetable Crops
(Veg 506)
Seed Longevity Enhancement
Techniques in Solanaceous Vegetables
Submitted By:
Anusha KR
L -2019-H-205-M

2. INTRODUCTION
• Seed quality is dependent on many environmental factors : moisture,
temperature and storage conditions.
• However, genetic factors also play an important role.
• Even though these factors are properly accounted , seed quality may still
be reduced in subsequent stages like harvesting, threshing, processing
and storage period which increases seed ageing.
• Poor seed handling condition leads to deterioration of seed quality and
loss of viability.

3. WHAT IS SEED LONGEVITY?
• Seed longevity is germination ability after seed dry storage at ambient conditions (seed
viability after seed dry storage ) and, therefore, describes the total seed life span
(Rajjou and Debeaujon, 2008)

4. • When seeds deteriorate during storage,
they loose vigor, become more sensitive
to stresses during germination and
ultimately are unable to germinate
• The rate of ageing is strongly influenced
by environmental and genetic factors

5. • Seeds of Solanaceous crops viz., tomato, chilli, brinjal have a high
commercial value and the possibility of losses in germination and vigour
over time emphasizes the importance of enhancement of their longevity.
• They are orthodox seeds.
• (tomato and brinjal)> chilli (seed viability)
• Thus there is a need to develop techniques which enhance their longevity.

6. HOW CAN WE INCREASE THE LONGEVITY OF
SEEDS?
• By proper storage of seeds
• Seed packaging
• Seed treatment

7. 1. SEED STORAGE
• Although seed quality is governed by genetic make-up, often the quality
of seeds is deteriorated during storage.
Several factors viz.,
• inherent genetic potential,
• initial seed quality,
• environment during seed production,
• seed moisture content,
• mechanical damage,
• seed borne diseases ,
• storage insects, and
• seed treatments, influence the seed longevity and affect subsequent
field performance.

8. • Hence, storage of seeds after harvest till next planting time assumes
prime importance for successful seed production program .
• Seed storage is preservation of seed with initial quality until it is needed
needed for planting.
StorageHarvest Planting

9. FACTORS AFFECTING SEED STORAGE
• Moisture
• Temperature
• Storage Pest
• Gas composition in storage

10. SEED MOISTURE
• Barton (1961) regarded that moisture content is of utmost importance in
seed deterioration.
• Harrington stated that Seed longevity is reduced by approximately half
for every 1% increase in seed moisture content and it maintains well at
the moisture range of 5-14%.
• This principle implies that seed storage life can be enhanced
considerably by lowering the moisture content.
• Seeds are generally harvested at high moisture content and need to be
dried before storage
• To accomplish this, attention should be paid to the rate and extent of
artificial post-harvest drying.

11. • If drying is too slow, there is a possibility of reduction in seed quality
due to seed ageing.
• On the other hand, if seeds are dried rapidly, a larger proportion may be
lost due to desiccation damage.
• This can be carried out by various methods:
1. Sun drying(Natural Drying)
2. Forced air drying (Mechanical drying) - Metal bin drier, Vegetable seed
drier, Batch drier
3. Use of desiccants (Chemical) for drying - silica gel or fused calcium
chloride (CaCl2)
Continued……

12. TEMPERATURE
• Seed longevity in several horticultural species decreases with an increase
in storage temperature.
• Harrington (1972) reported that seed life decreases by one-half when
temperatures are increased by 5°C .
• This rule is applicable in the temperature range of 0 to 50°C.
• Seeds of tomato and sweet pepper are viable for 36 months at 20° C
and for 70 months at O°C (Zhang and Kong 1996).

13. STORAGE PEST
• The activity of microflora, insect, mites can lead to damage resulting in loss
of viability.
• The microflora activity is controlled by Relative Humidity, temperature and
moisture Content of seed.
• Treated seeds with fungicides can be stored for longer periods.
• Insects commonly found in storage are weevil, grain borer, grain moth and
beetle.
• And can be controlled by fumigation.
• Fumigants - methyl bromide, hydrogen cyanide, ethylene dichloride etc.

14. GAS COMPOSITION DURING STORAGE
• Increase in O2 pressure, decrease the period of viability.
• N2 and CO2 atmosphere will increase the storage life of seeds.

15. 2. SEED PACKAGING
• Packaging materials play a major role in prolonging the shelf life of a
seed during storage as they separate seeds from the surrounding
environment.
• This increases storage or shelf life by inhibiting the growth of
microorganisms and improves hygiene by reducing the danger of cross
contamination.

16. TOMATO
• Freshly harvested seed should be dried and then cured for a minimum
of three to four weeks before placing in long-term storage.
• Tomato seeds have 60 to 70 percent moisture content at harvest, and
this must be reduced to 9 percent during storage for better seed quality
(Harrington, 1960).
• Seeds are able to absorb moisture from atmosphere; so, store in
moisture proof containers i.e. 700 gauge polyethylene bags for 30
months.
• Seeds dried in sun and shade (alternately for 2 h) and mechanical drying
with air at 40°C are optimal for safe drying and better storage.
• Tomato seeds packed in aluminum foil pouch is more effective for seed
longevity and maintaining the storability (Dheeraj et al 2018)

17. BRINJAL
Seed viability can be maintained upto18 months when stored in
• aluminium foil pouches
• by dressing the seeds with 2 g of thiram / kg of seed
• The seeds treated with flusilazole and carbendazim (2g /kg seed) in case
of brinjal stored in metal-box were found better in quality and storage
parameters up to 12 months under ambient conditions ( Kumar et al
2019)

18. CHILLI
• First picked seeds are stored well for a longer time than fifth and sixth picked seeds..
• The rate of deterioration was also faster in seed obtained from the later pickings.
• Seeds harvested at the ripe stage show higher germination and high seedling vigor
and can be stored longer under ambient conditions (Doijode, 1988)
• Seeds treated with captan (2g /kg seed) and packed in aluminium laminated bags
gave higher germination after 30 months of storage (Vadivelu and Ramaswamy,
1983).

19. EFFECT OF STORAGE CONTAINERS AT
DIFFERENT STORAGE PERIOD ON THE
QUALITY OF CHILLI SEED
Barua et al (2009)

20. CRYOPRESERVATION
• It is also called as cryogenic storage.
• Seeds are placed in liquid nitrogen at -196°C.
• Very little detrimental physiological activity takes place at these
temperatures, which prolongs the storage life of seeds.
• Not practical for commercial seed storage, but useful to store the
valuable germplasm.

21. 3. SEED TREATMENTS
• Seed deterioration is irreversible, inevitable, irreparable, but the rate of
deterioration can be reduced by certain seed enhancement techniques
like : seed treatment, coating, or pelleting with suitable chemicals,
botanicals, micronutrients and biocontrol agents.
• They reduce the quantitative and qualitative loss besides maintaining
quality of the seed for longer storage.
• Seed treatment of chilli with thiram (2g /kg seed) improved emergence
and untreated seeds showed lowest emergence after 10 months of
storage (Koteshwar Rao et al., 1962)

22. EFFECT OF SEED TREATMENTS AND
CONTAINERS ON CHILLI SEED VIABILITY
Jakhar and Kumar(2019)

23. SEED PELLETING
• Seed pelleting is the process of enclosing a seed with small quantity of
inert material just large enough to produce globular unit of standard size
which also provides small amount of nutrients to young seedlings
(Krishnasamy, 2003)

24. INFLUENCE OF SEED PELLETING ON
STORABILITY OF TOMATO
• The storage experiment was conducted for a period of ten months (July
2007 - May 2008) under ambient condition in the laboratory of
Department of Seed Science and Technology, University of Agricultural
Sciences, Dharwad.
• The experiment consisted of six seed pelleting treatments.
• The required quantity of tomato seeds were pelleted as per the
treatment using binder polyvinyl acetate (60 ml/kg) and filler saw dust
(10g/kg).
• The pelleted seeds were packed in cloth bag and polyethylene bag (700
gauge) and stored under ambient condition for 10 months.
Shashibhaskar et al (2008)

25. T1 - Carbendazim @ 2 g/kg
powder
T2 - Neem leaf @ 10 g/kg
T3 - CaOCl2 @ 3 g/kg
T4 - ZnSO4 @ 300 mg/kg
T5 – Trichoderma viridae @ 4 g/kg
T6 – Control (unpelleted seeds)
INFLUENCE OF SEED DRESSING CHEMICALS ON MOISTURE
CONTENT (%) OF PELLETED TOMATO SEEDS CV. PKM-1
DURING STORAGE
Shashibhaskar et al (2008)
C1- Cloth bag and
C2- Polyethylene bag

26. INFLUENCE OF SEED DRESSING ON GERMINATION (%) OF
PELLETED TOMATO SEEDS CV. PKM-DURING STORAGE
T1 - Carbendazim @ 2 g/kg
powder
T2 - Neem leaf @ 10 g/kg
T3 - CaOCl2 @ 3 g/kg
T4 - ZnSO4 @ 300 mg/kg
T5 – Trichoderma viridae @ 4
g/kg
T6 – Control (unpelleted seeds)
Shashibhaskar et al
(2008)
C1- Cloth bag and
C2- Polyethylene bag

27. INFLUENCE OF STORAGE CONTAINERS AND SEED PELLETING
ON SEED QUALITY IN BRINJAL (SOLANUM MELONGENA L.)
DURING STORAGE
The hybrid seeds of brinjal cv. Arka Navneet were
pelleted with
• Bavistin (0.1%),
• ZnS04 (0.03%),
• MnS04 (2%),
• DAP (6%).
• Albezia amara leaf powder (2.5%) and
• stored in paper bags and polyethylene bags of
700 gauge
Kumar et al
(2008)
• The seeds were initially coated with adhesive
and pelleting material
• Followed by sprinkling and rolling on the filler
material (ash) for effective and uniform coating.
• Later, they were dried back to their original
moisture content and
• stored in paper and polyethylene bags under
ambient conditions for 12 months

28. Effect of seed pelleting and containers on seed quality parameters during storage of brinjal hybrid cv.Arka
Navneet
G-germination (%), SG-speed of germination, VI-vigour index, SW-seedling dry weight

29. SEED PRIMING
• Seed priming is a pre-sowing treatment which leads to a physiological
state that enables seed to germinate more efficiently.
• It is a controlled hydration technique in which seeds are soaked in water
or low osmotic potential solution to a point where germination related
metabolic activities begin but radical emergence do not occur.

30. • Seeds of tomato variety PKM 1, egg plant variety CO2 and chilli variety
K2 were obtained for priming.
Priming methods followed were,
• Hydropriming
• Halopriming
• Osmopriming
• Sand matrix priming
STORABILITY OF PRIMED SEEDS OF
TOMATO , EGGPLANT AND CHILLI
Venkatasubramanian and Umarani (
2010)

31. STORABILITY OF PRIMED SEEDS OF
TOMATO , EGGPLANT AND CHILLI
Effect of priming methods on germination of tomato seeds ( cv PKM1 )
Venkatasubramanian and Umarani (
2010)
Tomato seed hydro primed for 48 h in
water showed highest germination %
after 6 months of storage.

32. STORABILITY OF PRIMED SEEDS OF
TOMATO , EGGPLANT AND CHILLI
Effect of priming methods on germination and seedling length in egg plant ( cv CO
2 )
Venkatasubramanian and Umarani (
2010)

33. Effect of priming methods on germination and seedling length in chilli ( cv K2 )
Venkatasubramanian and Umarani (
2010)
STORABILITY OF PRIMED SEEDS OF
TOMATO , EGGPLANT AND CHILLI

34. HALOGENATION
• Halogenation is a process where hydrogen atoms are replaced by
chlorine, flourine, bromine.
• It is a pre-storage seed treatment by halogens at room temperature
• The halogen is absorbed by unsaturated fatty acids of the seed
• They counteract on free radicle production that causes seed
deterioration and thus controls it.

35. STUDIES ON HALOGENATION AND PLANT BIO -
PRODUCTS ON STORABILITY OF CHILLI SEED
Hunje et al (2007)

36. CONCLUSION
• Quality seed is required for better establishment of seedling in field and
for higher crop production.
• Seeds when stored under conditions of low temperature and moisture
stay viable for a long period of time.
• Seeds, proved to have longer viability when stored in polyethylene bags
and aluminum foils when compared to cloth bags.
• Seed treatment is effective method for maintaining vigour and viability of
seed in storage by controlling storage insect and infection.
• Rather than the use of individual method, the combined effect of the
above methods are found to be more efficient.

37. THANK YOU