Effect of Priming on Stored Onion Seeds
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Author:K. Selvarani, R. Umarani and K. Sivasubramaniam
p-ISSN:0024-9602, e-ISSN:2582-5321, Vol:98, Issue:apr-jun
DOI: https://doi.org/10.29321/MAJ.10.100258
Abstract
Onion seeds were treated with water (hydropriming), sand (80% WHC) (Solid matrix priming),
salts of KNO3 and NaCl at 3% (halopriming) for 12 h and 24 h and PEG (-0.25 MPa) for 8h and 12 h
(osmopriming). Seeds grouped into two lots and dried to 7% and 8% MC were packed in
Aluminium foil pouch and cloth bag respectively and stored for four months under ambient
conditions (33°C and 57% RH). Results of the storage experiment revealed that all the eight
priming treatments imposed upon onion seeds increased the speed of germination,
germination percentage, seedling length, protein content and enzyme activity but lowered
the electrical conductivity of seeds when compared to control. Among the treatments, seeds
hydro primed with 80% sand for 24 h bestowed supremacy over the rest of the treatments
throughout the period of storage in both containers. Between the containers, seeds stored
in Aluminium foil pouch recorded significantly improved percentage of radicle protrusion
and germination throughout the period of storage.
Key words : Onion seed, hydropriming, sandmatrix priming, storage