<div>Background: Pea (Pisum sativum L.) is an important leguminous crop utilized as vegetable and pulse, being an important source of proteins. Pea seeds harbour various mycoflora both in field and during storage, which plays important role in reducing seed viability, germination and vigour inflicting considerable losses in yield and quality. There is scarcely any recommendation available to maintain seed quality during storage of pea seeds, hence present study was carried out. 
 
Methods: Seeds of pea (cvs. Azad P. 1 and Arkel) were treated with Captan and Carbendazim 50%WP fungicides @ 2.0 g/Kg seed and stored under ambient conditions. The samples were drawn at three months interval to assess the effect of storage on seed quality parameters. The vigour index I, per cent germination and speed of germination of these seed samples were determined using ISTA rules. The detection of associated mycoflora in pea (Pisum sativum L.) seed samples was carried out by standard blotter method as recommended by International Seed Testing Association. 
 
Result: Total fourteen fungal species were found associated with different pea seed samples. Out of these, maximum incidence of Alternaria alternata (21.36%) followed by Aspergillus flavus (15.53%), A. fumigatus (14.56%), A. niger (11.60%) and Rhizopus stolonifer (9.71%), were recorded on untreated seed of pea cv. Azad P. 1, after 18 months of storage. The germination, speed of germination and vigour index of stored seed reduced with increase in storage period, whereas fungal incidence increased with the increasing storage period. Among the tested cultivars, germination in pea (cv. Arkel) remained above IMSCS even after 18 months of storage under ambient storage conditions. The maximum percent germination (99.0) was found in pea cv. Azad P. 1 seeds treated with Captan at 3 months of storage, whereas minimum percent germination (49.5) was found in untreated seed of pea cv. Azad P. 1 after 18 months of storage. The maximum speed of germination (23.88) was found in Captan treated seed of pea cv. Arkel at 0 month of storage and minimum speed of germination (3.52) was found in untreated seed of pea cv. Azad P. 1 at 18 months of storage. The maximum vigour index I (2339) was found in pea cv. Azad P. 1 (Captan treated seed) at 3 months of storage and minimum vigour index I (431) was found in untreated seed of pea cv. Azad P. 1 after 18 months of storage.</div>

​Effect of Seed Treatments and Storage Period on Seed Health Parameters of Pea (Pisum sativum L.) under Ambient Storage Conditions

<div>Background: Oilseeds are very sensitive to the adverse environmental conditions. The oil inside the seeds will get oxidized easily and deteriorate the seed health during storage. Diverse environmental conditions such as temperature, pests and diseases, seed oil and moisture content, mechanical damages, storage time and relative humidity of store may affect the viability of seeds. Therefore, the present study aimed to study the effect of pre-storage seed treatments on the storage potential in soybean seed. 
 
Methods: The study was carried out during rabi 2020-21 and onwards at the Department of Seed Science and Technology, College of Agriculture, Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh. The seeds of two soybean varieties (V1: GJS 3 and V2: JS 335) treated with different pre storage dry dressing seed treatments (S1: Control (untreated seed), S2: Boric acid powder @ 5 g/kg seed, S3: Neem kernel powder @ 5 g/kg seed, S4: Wood ash @ 5 g/kg seed and S5: Calcium hypochlorite @ 5 g/kg seed) were stored after packing in three containers (C1: Aluminium foil bag, C2: Non-wooven cloth bag and C3: Air tight plastic containers). The seeds were&nbsp; evaluated for seed quality parameters viz., seed moisture content (%), germination percentage (%), seedling length (cm), seedling dry weight (mg), seedling vigour index &ndash; I and seedling vigour index - II &nbsp;up to eight month of storage at interval of two month after storage following Completely Randomized Design (Factorial) repeated three times. 
 
Results: Germination percentage, seedling length, seedling dry weight, seedling vigour index I and seedling vigour index II were decreased with increased in storage period, while seed moisture content was increased with increased in storage period, thus was concluded that the quality of seed degraded in storage condition. In the storage condition, seeds of JS 335 treated with wood ash @ 5 g/kg seed and packed in air tight plastic container recorded the maximum germination percentage and was statistically at par with seeds of JS 335 treated with wood ash @ 5 g/kg seed and packed in aluminium foil bag. Seeds of JS 335 treated with wood ash @ 5 g/kg seed and packed in aluminium foil bag recorded the maximum seedling length, seedling dry weight, seedling vigour index I and seedling vigour index II.</div>

Effect of Pre-storage Seed Treatments on the Storage Potential in Soybean Seed [Glycine max (L.) Merill]

<div style="text-align:justify">Background: Seed is an important component and the quality seed plays a crucial role in agricultural production as well as in the national economy. Availability of viable and vigorous seeds at the planting time is important. Onion seeds have a short life span among the vegetable crops and lose viability rapidly after harvest. The main reason for the low quality of onion seeds includes a long flowering period resulting in different stages of seed maturity in the umbel, very fast reduction of viability if stored in suboptimal conditions and seed infestation with fungi. Seed priming is a widely used technique to enhance seed performance during storage. 
 
Methods: The seed was primed with Neem leaf powder (100 g/kg) after hydration and dehydration, hydration with KH2PO4 (2.0%), KNO3 (1.0%), K2SO4 (1.0%) and Captan (N-trichloromethylthio-4-cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboximide) at 2.5 g/kg and stored in polyethylene (100&micro;) bags under ambient conditions. After each treatment, seeds were dried back to their original moisture content under shade.&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 
Result: The results revealed that different priming treatments had a significant effect on germination percentage, seedling length and vigour index-I except for moisture percentage in both the years. The maximum germination (74.1 and 71.2%) was observed in seeds treated with Captan (2.5 g/kg) followed by Neem leaf powder 100 g/kg seed (71.1 and 69.72%) during 2014-15 and 2015-16, respectively. The onion seeds primed with KH2PO4 (2.0%), KNO3 (1.0%) and K2SO4 (1.0%) had an adverse effect on seed germination. The germination decreased significantly with the increase in the storage period. The maximum seedling emergence (60.0%) was observed from the seed primed with Captan (2.5 g/kg) followed by Neem leaf powder 100 g/kg seed (56.1%).&nbsp;</div>

Maintaining Onion Seed Quality during Storage Through Seed Priming

Background: Seed deterioration is an unavoidable process during seed storage resulting in declined germination and vigour of the seeds and the seeds have different storage potential under different storage condition. Maintenance of germination and vigour requires new alternative method of storage conditions viz., packaging material and temperature conditions. Storage potential of groundnut seeds cv. VRI 8 and the changes associated with the seeds stored under different storage conditions were investigated in this study. 
 
Methods: The efficiency of modified atmospheric storage with different combination of CO2, N2 and O2 and vacuum packaging under different storage temperature (25&deg;C, 5&deg;C and -5&deg;C) for maintaining the storage behaviour of seeds up to 8 months were evaluated and the gas mixture was checked in gas analyzer at regular intervals.&nbsp; 
 
Result: The seeds stored under modified atmospheric storage (MAS) condition with a gas mixture of 0% CO2, 100% N2 and 0% O2 at -5&deg;C temperature condition, maintained germination and seed vigour above 70% with a minimum increase in seed moisture content even after 8 months of storage and even when these seeds kept under ambient condition also maintained germination above 70% after 8 months of storage while the seeds stored under ambient condition registered less germination of below 70% by 6 months of storage itself. Down-regulation of antioxidant defence system viz., catalase and peroxidase activity and the minimum accumulation of malondialdehyde and H202 content in the embryo indicated the less oxidative damage in the seeds stored under MAS compared to ambient condition. Thus, the study highlighted that the seeds have better storage potential under modified atmospheric storage condition with low atmospheric temperature through maintaining the seed quality by reducing their metabolic activity and storing these seeds under ambient condition could be a cost-effective method.

Storage Behaviour of Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) Seeds under Different Storage Condition

<div>Background: Winged bean (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus (L.) D.C.), is unique legume which has numerous phytochemical with distinct properties. So, this research work was performed to explore and quantify the bioactive compound from different extracts of winged bean seeds through GC-MS and to assess the bio-efficacy on cowpea seed to protect them against deterioration and bruchid. 
 
Methods: The bioactive compounds of winged bean seed extracts (from different solvents, viz., water, ethanol and hexane) were analysed by GC-MS and the bio-efficacy of identified superlative extract on maintaining the quality of cowpea seed var. VBN 3 was done using accelerated ageing method.&nbsp; 
 
Result: The GC-MS results showed the attendance of 30 different compounds in different extracts of the winged bean seeds. Of the different compounds eluted from extract, the ethanolic seed extract revealed the existence of distinct phytocompounds such as d-mannitol,1,4-anhydro-(1.59%), diethyl phthalate (27.21%), n-hexadecanoic acid (4.54%), 9,12-octadecadienoic acid (Z,Z)- (9.71%),&nbsp; oleic acid (14.16%), octadecanoic acid (4.89%), 9,12,15-octadecatrienoic acid and 2-phenyl-1,3-dioxan-5-yl ester (1.05%) which possess significant antioxidant and insecticidal properties. Among the different concentration of ethanolic extract, cowpea seeds treated with 2.5% of ethanolic seed extract of winged bean showed the highest germination (94%) and vigour index I (4436) compared to other treatments while the control recorded lowest germination (88%) and vigour index (3572) at initial day. As ageing progresses, seed germination percent and vigour index of 2.5% ethanolic extract treated seeds dropped to 63% and 1845 while, it is 42% and 953 in case of untreated seeds. The bio-efficacy study of ethanolic extract against bruchid revealed the LD90 value (2.5%) of winged bean seed extract. This study clearly shows that ethanolic extract of winged bean seeds have many bioactive compounds with distinct properties that maintain the seed quality under storage.</div>

Comparative Phytochemical Profiling of Psophocarpus tetragonolobus (L.) D.C. Seed Extracts for Effective Storage of Cowpea Seeds

<div style="text-align:justify">Background: Seed preservation in the context of changing climatic conditions and retaining quality is a big challenge, especially for marginal farmers who does not have appropriate seed storage facilities. Moisture and temperature variations (both seasonal and diurnal) during storage result in moulds, bacteria, insects, mites and rodents attacks. Tropical regions with higher ambient temperatures and relative humidity variations need to address the storage issue.&nbsp; 
Methods: This research work discusses the process of design, fabrication and testing of a low-cost seed storage unit (SSU) for community-based seed banks. The SSU of 200 L storage capacity was cooled using a thermoelectric cooler (TEC) to provide the temperature range of 15&deg;C to 18&deg;C and relative humidity &lt;70% inside the SSU. The SSU was field-tested at fourteen different agro-climatic locations for seeds of paddy (Oryza sativa), gram (Cicer arietinum), onion (Allium cepa), groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) and maize (Zea mays) during the period 18 months between 2017 to 2019. These seeds were tested for germination count (GC) and moisture content (MC).&nbsp;&nbsp; 
Result: Results obtained indicated that the SSU developed can retain essential seed quality parameters i.e. more than 80% germination count (GC), except for groundnut seeds over a period of 18 months as against loss of seed viability in 8 months&rsquo; time in traditional storage at ambient temperature. Based on the field performance testing, we recommend the use of such devices for farmers&rsquo; and farmers&rsquo; producer companies for a decentralised seed storage capacity of 100 to 200 kg.</div>

Design and Development of Cold Storage System for Community- based Small-size Seed Banks for Farmers

<div style="text-align: justify;">Background: Tomato is one of the most important vegetable crops in the world due to its dietary value. Harvesting and storing of physiologically matured tomato seeds is very important to secure good quality seeds for future use in a changing climate. The objective of the study was to assess the effect of maturity stages on seed quality of two tomato accessions during cold storage.&nbsp; Methods: Seeds of two tomato accessions extracted at four maturity stages (i.e. initially ripe, half ripe, fully ripe and rotten) were stored at -20oC in a deep freezer for 12 months. The quality of stored seeds was measured by seed vigour and germination percentage at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after storage.&nbsp; Conclusion: The study showed significant differences in seed vigour and germination percentage at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after storage (MAS) among the maturity stages. Seeds extracted at the initially ripe stage in GH 9305 had the least vigour at 3, 6, 9 and 12 MAS. The highest reduction in seed quality during the storage period was observed in seeds extracted at the rotten stage in both accessions. Seed vigour and germination were higher in GH 9207 than GH 9305. Storage of physiologically matured tomato seeds at freezing temperature is necessary to reduce seed ageing and to maintain high seed quality.</div>

<div style="text-align: justify;">Influence of Different Maturity Stages on Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) Seed Quality during Storage at -20&deg;C</div>

<div style="text-align:justify">Background: Dolichos bean is one of the important vegetable legume crops. During storage, protection of seed from bruchid attack is a major problem worldwide. Once the bruchid attacks, the extent of damage could be up to 100%, leading to both quantitative and qualitative loss by making it unfit for consumption. Existing traditional methods are less effective or impractical and the use of chemical methods can be harmful to the farmers and consumers. So, there is urgent need of hermetic storage method for seed quality maintenance. Keeping in view, the present study was carried out to investigate on hermetic storage practices for seed quality maintenance. 
Methods: Triple-layer PICS technology, a chemical-free hermetic storage was evaluated for storage of dolichos bean to moisture content, germination and quality. Four different types of storage bags viz., jute bags, polythene bags, triple layer PICS bags and jute bags treated with chlorpyrifos were used for evaluating their efficacy in managing dolichos bean seed attributes. The data on various parameters pertaining to seed characteristics and changes in biochemical composition of dolichos bean seeds stored in different bags was recorded at every two month intervals for 3 times (2,4, and 6 months) by using standard protocols. Complete Randomized Design (CRD) (Snedecor and Cochran, 1967) was used for the data analysis. The data was subjected to statistical analysis as per the methods suggested by Panse and Sukhatme (1985).&nbsp; 
Result: Results on moisture content showed that, in case of storage in PICS bags, there was no decrease in seed moisture content at 2, 4 and 6 months respectively and germination percent in triple-layer PICS bag at 2, 4 and 6 months storage was highest among all bag types. Test weight (g), protein content (%) and&nbsp; carbohydrate content (%) at 2, 4 and 6 months storage respectively were higher in triple layer PICS bag. The mean fat content recorded was highest in jute bag (1.25%) and lowest in triple layer PICS bag (0.63%). Our study concludes that the triple layer PICS bags hermetic technology is efficient in managing maintaining same level of moisture content percent, germination percent and test weight compared to other bags over 3 different periods of storage. The triple layer PICS bags are also highly useful for retaining carbohydrate percent and protein percent at almost the same levels compared to initial values.&nbsp;</div>

​​Effect of Hermetic Storage on Seed Quality Maintenance of Dolichos Bean [Lablab purpureus (L.) var Typicus Prain]

Experiments conducted to elucidate the impact of polymer coating on viability of cotton seeds at Central Institute for Cotton Research, Regional Station, Coimbatore, India revealed that seeds coated with polymer “polycote” or “ polyloc” @ 3 ml kg-1 + thiram @ 2.5 g kg-1+ super red @ 5 ml kg-1 +  cruiser @ 5 g kg-1 packed in polythene bag (700 gauge ) and stored at ambient condition for 26 months  was found superior in preserving seed quality viz., seed viability expressed in terms of germination  and seedling vigour over untreated seeds. The percentage loss of viability was less rapid and at 26th month of storage it was 70% where as in control 56%. Less  seed infection, high seedling vigour and field emergence was recorded in coated seeds. 

Extension of shelf life of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) seeds through polymer coating under ambient storage condition

<div>Background: Pulses are very crucial to meet the requirements of dietary proteins in the human diet especially for the predominantly vegetarian population in India. Pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] and chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) are important pulses grown in India. The seeds of these crops are highly vulnerable to various microorganisms, both in the field and during storage, which play an important role in reducing the seed viability, germination and vigour causing considerable loss in yield and quality. There is no suitable recommendation available to maintain seed quality during storage of pulses, hence present study was undertaken.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: Seeds of pigeonpea and chickpea were treated with Captan and Carbendazim 50% WP fungicides @ 2.0 g/Kg of seed and stored under ambient condition. The samples were drawn at three months interval to assess the effect of storage on seed quality parameters. The vigour index I, seed germination and speed of germination of these seed samples were determined using ISTA rules. The detection of seed mycoflora in pigeonpea and chickpea seed samples was carried out by the blotter test as recommended by the International Seed Testing Association.&nbsp; 
 
Result: Total sixteen fungal species were recorded on stored seeds. Maximum incidence of Aspergillus fumigatus (19.83%), A. flavus (14.88%), A. niger (12.40%), Alternaria alternata (11.57%), Fusarium oxysporum (8.26%), Rhizopus stolonifer (7.44%) and Penicillium notatum (5.79%) were recorded on untreated seed of pigeonpea cv. P. 2001 after 18 months of storage. The per cent germination, speed of germination and vigour index of the stored seeds decreased with the increase in the storage period whereas the total number of fungi increased with the storage period, irrespective of treatments. Among the tested cultivars, germination in pigeonpea (cv. P. 991) remained above IMSCS (&gt;75%) upto 18 months of storage under ambient storage condition. However, the germination of pigeonpea cv. P. 2001 seed could be maintained above IMSCS (&gt;75%) up to 12 months only. In chickpea (local cultivar) seed, the germination remained above IMSCS (&gt;85%) up to 9 months only under ambient storage, however seed treatment with either Captan or Carbendazim could prolong the longevity upto 12 months of storage.</div>

Effect of Seed Treatments and Storage Period on Seed Health Parameters of Pea (Pisum sativum L.) under Ambient Storage Conditions

Effect of Pre-storage Seed Treatments on the Storage Potential in Soybean Seed [Glycine max (L.) Merill]

Maintaining Onion Seed Quality during Storage Through Seed Priming

Storage Behaviour of Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) Seeds under Different Storage Condition

Comparative Phytochemical Profiling of Psophocarpus tetragonolobus (L.) D.C. Seed Extracts for Effective Storage of Cowpea Seeds

Design and Development of Cold Storage System for Community- based Small-size Seed Banks for Farmers

Influence of Different Maturity Stages on Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) Seed Quality during Storage at -20°C

Effect of Hermetic Storage on Seed Quality Maintenance of Dolichos Bean [Lablab purpureus (L.) var Typicus Prain]

Extension of shelf life of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) seeds through polymer coating under ambient storage condition

Studies on Seed Longevity of Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L.) and Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) under Ambient Storage Condition