ASSESSMENT OF THE PATTERN OF LOSS OF VIABILITY AND VIGOUR OF GROUND NUT SEEDS STORED AS POD AND KERNEL IN AMBIENT AND MODIFIED ATMOSPHERIC STORAGE

V. VAKESWARAN¹*, P. SELVARAJU², M. BHASKARAN^3
1Seed Centre, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, 641 301, Tamil Nadu, India
²Seed Centre, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, 641 301, Tamil Nadu, India
³Seed Centre, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, 641 301, Tamil Nadu, India
* Corresponding Author : vakeswaran@gmail.com

Received : 18-05-2017     Accepted : 09-09-2017     Published : 12-09-2017
Volume : 9     Issue : 42       Pages : 4674 - 4678
Int J Agr Sci 9.42 (2017):4674-4678

Keywords : Groundnut, Pod storage, Kernel storage, Ambient, Cold storage, Modified atmospheric storage
Academic Editor : Jagannath Pathak
Conflict of Interest : None declared
Acknowledgements/Funding : Sincere thanks to Indian Council of Agricultural Research-All India Coordinate Research Project-National Seed Project (Crops)-Seed Technology Research Component, India for funding this research project
Author Contribution : Vakeswaran V. is the Scientists incharge of the research project and conducted the experiment; Selvaraju P. and Bhaskaran M. are the Nodal officers of this research project.

Seed viability and seed vigour are the most important factors affected during deterioration. However, viability and vigour are not affected at the same rate. In the present study attempt was made to assess the pattern of loss of vigour and viability of two groundnut varieties (CO 7 - Dormant variety and TMV 13 non dormant variety) when stored as kernel and pod in different storage environment viz. ambient storage, cold storage and atmosphere with 40% of CO2 concentration. The groundnut kernels were dried to 8 % moisture content with the care of not over drying and gradual reduction of moisture. Ten kg of ground nut kernel and pods (untreated), were packed in gunny bag (farmers practice - Moisture vapour pervious) and 700 gauge polyethylene container (Moisture vapour proof) and placed in ambient condition and also in cold storage (100 C + 40 % RH) with three replications. The same were kept in a container were 40 % CO2 concentration was maintained throughout the study period. The CO2 concentration was measured and maintained on weekly basis. The results in the present study revealed that the pattern of vigour and viability loss was found to endorse the already established trend of decline in vigour and viability i.e., the decline in vigour occurs much more rapidly than the decline in viability. At the same time, the pattern of loss in vigour and vibility varies with the different patterns of seed handling in storage. Pods packed in 700 gauge polyethylene bag and stored at 10 0 C + 40 % RH (storage environment) maintains better vigour and viablity for 12 months, 1224 and 76 % in TMV 13 and 1158 and 72% in CO7 respectively, compared to gunny bag storage under ambient condition, where a vigour and viability of 858 and 43 % in TMV 13 and 664 and 47 % in CO 6 was recorded. A kernel stored in 100 C in polyethylene bag was on par with pods stored in cold storage. After 12 months of storage it recorded a vigour and viability of 1218 and 75 % in TMV 13 and 1210 and 76 in CO7, respectively. The storage insect - Ground nut seed borer (Carydon seratus) - was observed under ambient storage alone, that too only in TMV 13 but not in CO7. The seeds and pods stored in a storage atmosphere comprising of 40 % of CO2 concentration maintained a vigour and viability 1220 and 81 % in TMV 7 and 1196 and 78 % in CO7, respectively after 12 months of storage, which was an par with kernel or pod storage in cold storage. Hence storing the pods or kernels of groundnut dried to the moisture content of 8 percent and stored either in the storage environment of 100 C + 40 % RH or 40 % CO2 concentration can maintain the vigour and viability as per the Indian Minimum Seed Certification Standards upto 12 months of storage.

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