Abstract

                                Seed samples of hedge lucerne scarified with commercial sulphuric acid @ 200 ml kg-1 of seed for 15 min and dried to seven per cent moisture content.Treated with (i) halogen mixture @ 3 g kg-1 of seed, (ii) bavistin @ 2.5 g kg-1 of seed, (iii) carbaryl @ 2 g kg-1 of seed (iv) neem oil @ 1: 100 (w/v) and (v) diflubenzuron @ 2 ppm and were packed in cloth bag along with untreated seed samples under ambient conditions for a period of 12 months. The seed samples were tested at trimonthly intervals for moisture content, germination, seedling vigour, electrical conductivity and dehydrogenase enzyme activity. The results revealed that treating the seeds with diflubenzuron maintained the maximum germination of 74 per cent after 12 months of storage followed by halogen (70 %) and bavistin (70 %). Neem oil was found to affect the seed viability.

Key words : Hedge Lucerne, seed storage, seed viability, seed germination, seedling vigour.