EFFECT OF DIFFERENT STORAGE CONTAINERS ON GERMINATION AND MYCOFLORA OF PONGAMIA PINNATA SEEDS

摘要

Fresh seeds of Pongamia pinnata(L.) Pierre (Karanj) were stored in six types of containers viz. plastic jars, glass bottles, tin boxes and bags of polythene, jute and cloth at room temperature for a period of two years. A total of thirteen species offungi were noted on P. pinnata seeds. The fungi were found minimum on seeds stored in plastic jars, followed by polybags. Seeds stored in plastic jars and polybags gave better germination during whole storage period while it was very poor in seeds storedin jute and cloth bags only after four months of storage as the frequency of fungi was more in these containers. There was no significant difference in oil content of fresh seeds and seeds stored in plastic jars and polybags, although it was more or less the same in other storage conditions also i.e. in glass bottles and tin boxes. Percentage loss in oil contents in the seeds stored in jute bags and cloth bags was 17.7 and 15.8, respectively. On the basis of above findings, it is recommended that the seeds can be protected from fungal infestation in tightly-capped plastic jars and mouth-tied polybags. These containers also prevent the deterioration of stored seeds and increasestorage life of seeds.