Abstract:
The storage of vegetable seeds after harvest till next planting time assumes
prime importance for successful breeding and seed production programmes since the
seed viability and vigour in storage are regulated by many physico-chemical factors.
Therefore, experiments were carried out to study the possibility of enhancing
storability of ridge gourd (Luffa acutangula L.) seeds using silica gel under ambient
conditions at the Department of Vegetable Science, Horticultural College and
Research Institute, Coimbatore during 2017-2018 using seeds of ridge gourd variety
CO1. The experimental design was Factorial Complete Randomized Block Design
with four replications. Factor 1 included 3 levels of moisture content viz., 9% (shade
dried fresh seeds), 6% and 4% (dried using Silica gel). Factor 2 included 4 different
packing materials viz., Aluminum foil (polylined), polyethylene cover (500 gauge),
polyethylene cover (700 gauge) and cloth bag and stored for 15 months under ambient
temperature. The results showed that during “0” storage period the seeds with 6%
moisture content packed in polythene cover of 500 gauge thickness recorded a higher
germination percentage (74%), vigour Index I and II (3142.2 and 71 respectively).
During 3 months, the Vigour Index II (49) was higher in seeds with 6% moisture
content packed in polythene cover of 500 gauge thickness. During 6 months, seeds
with 4%moisture content packed in polythene cover of 500 gauge thickness recorded
higher germination percentage (57%) andVigour Index I (2111.85). During 9 months,
the seeds with 4% moisture content packed in Aluminium foil registered higher
germination percentage (88%) and Vigour Index II (91.68). It can be inferred that the
seeds packed in aluminum foil (polylined) expressed the highest germination
percentage (88%) and vigour index II (91.68) up to 9 months. Desiccated seeds stored
in moisture impervious containers produced more vigourous seedlings. Thus,
adoption of appropriate moisture level and packing materials would significantly
increase the storability of ridge gourd seeds under ambient conditions.
