Seed Treatments for Extended Storability and thier Physiology on Different Vigour Status of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.)

摘要

Dry dressing of different vigour lots viz., high, medium and low-vigour of okra seeds with pharmaceutical formulations (aspirin @ 50 mg/ kg of seed); crude plant materials viz., red chilli powder (Capsicum frutescence L. @ 1 g/ kg of seed) and neem leaf powder (Azadirachta indica L. @ 2 g/ kg of seed); and wet treatment (soaking-drying) showed significant post-storage germinability of okra over their respective control. Most of the dry treatments has shown better results in improving germinability over control, especially in case of high-vigour seed. But in case of medium-vigour seed, dry treatments showed a marginal improvement on germinability compared to untreated. In low-vigour seeds, dry treatments did not show any significant improvement on vigour and viability over untreated control. Soaking-drying treatment showed adverse effect on germinability in high-vigour okra seeds, probably due to soaking injury. But, in case of medium- and low-vigour seeds, soaking-drying gave better results in improving storability over their respective untreated control. The treatment effects are positively correlated with the different vigour status in improving germinability of the okra seeds. Similar trends of results were observed in physiological and biochemical studies in reducing the leakage of electrolytes and sugar; lower volatile aldehyde production; and higher dehydrogenase enzyme activity by the treated seed over their respective untreated control. The present study reveals that the dry seed treatments with aspirin and red chilli powder in high-vigour seeds; and wet treatment viz., soaking-drying in medium-and low-vigour seeds may be recommended for the retention of vigour and viability during storage of okra.