BSc-MSc (Integrated)

Desmodium gangeticum and Indigofera tinctoria are valuable medicinal plants
frequently used in the Indian System of Medicine. These crops are propagated
through seeds. Seeds of these crops lose viability within 3-4 months after
extraction under normal conditions. In order to get optimum plant population,
uniform germination has to be assured. For that it is necessary to store the seeds at
appropriate environmental conditions. By modifying the storage environment and
by using apt packing materials storage life of seeds can be enhanced.
The present investigation “Influence of storage environment and packing
materials on seed germination and viability of Desmodium gangeticum (L.) DC.
and Indigofera tinctoria (L.)” was carried out at the Academy of Climate Change
Education and Research, Vellanikkara and All India Coordinated Research Project
on Medicinal, Aromatic Plants and Betelvines (AICRP on MAP & B), College of
Horticulture, Vellanikkara during the year 2016-2017. The experiment was laid
out in a completely randomized design with 18 treatments replicated twice.
Observations on micrometeorological and seed quality parameters (1000 seed
weight, seed moisture content, germination percentage, seedling root length,
seedling shoot length, seedling fresh weight and seedling dry weight) were
recorded at weekly intervals.
All the seed quality parameters were significantly influenced by the
individual treatments of moisture levels, packing materials and storage
environments and by the combined interaction of these three factors except
seedling fresh weight, seedling dry weight and 1000 seed weight at some weeks
after storage.
Seeds of 8% moisture content recorded higher germination percentage for
both crops, higher seedling root length and shoot length for Indigofera tinctoria.
Among the packing materials, polythene bag stored seeds of Desmodium
gangeticum showed higher 1000 seed weight, germination and seedling shoot
length at the same time cloth bag stored Indigofera tinctoria seeds recorded higher
1000 seed weight, germination and seedling root length. Seeds stored under
refrigerated condition showed higher 1000 seed weight, germination percentage,
seedling root length and seedling shoot length for both crops.
Significant positive and negative relationships were observed due to the
influence of weather parameters (maximum temperature, minimum temperature
and relative humidity) on seed quality. Maximum temperature and relative
humidity showed a positive relationship with majority of the seed quality
parameters except seedling fresh weight of Indigofera tinctoria and seed moisture
content of Desmodium gangeticum. Most of the seed quality parameters (1000
seed weight, seed moisture content, germination percentage, seedling shoot length
and seedling fresh weight) were negatively influenced by minimum temperature.
Results of the investigation implies that, to enhance the germination of
seeds over a period of 12 weeks of storage it is better to dry the seeds to 8%
moisture content and pack in polythene bags for Desmodium gangeticum seeds ,
cloth bags for Indigofera tinctoria seeds and store under refrigerated environment.