Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

AN ALTERNATIVE METHOD TO PROTECT SEED HEALTH IN STORAGE IN SUNFLOWER

V. Bharathi, M. Sudha Rani, K. Kanaka Durga and N. V. Naidu

Abstract

Studies for seed quality enhancement through various seed coating techniques were carried out in sunflower up to six months storage period at SRTC, Rajendranagar for two years 2011-13 to minimize the seed borne pathogens which causes enzyme degradation and nutritive loss in seed germination during storage period. An experiment was conducted with six treatments in four replications with different seed coating techniques. Seed coating with polymer (polykote @ 4 mL/kg seed + thiram 75% WP @ 2.5 g/kg seed) induced maximum suppression of the fungal mycoflora followed by polymer coating across the storage period up to six months in both gunny bags and HDPE bags. Irrespective of bag, maximum germination percent (92.37) and seedling vigour index (2068) (Germination X seedling length) was recorded with polykote + thiram 75 WP when compared to control and other treatments. Polycoat seed treatment was the next best in maintain seed quality which induced maximum suppression of fungi but the response was relatively lower compared to polykote + thiram treatment. Coated seed with polykote and thiram 75 WP was proved to be the best with gunny bag up to 4 months storage period and with HDPE bag up to 6 months storage period.