EFFECT OF SEED FORTIFICATION TREATMENTS AND CONTAINERS ON THE STORABILITY OF SESAME CV TMV 3

They study was undertaken to monitor the viability of various fortified seeds of sesame seeds stored under different containers in the Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar. Genetically pure seeds of sesame cv. TMV 3 were obtained from the Oilseed Research Station, Thindivanam. The bulk seeds were graded for uniformity using appropriate round perforated metal sieves of sizes of 5/64" size sieve and were imposed with various fortification pre-storage seed treatments i.e., GA3 @ 100 ppm, IAA @ 100 ppm, MnSo4 @ 0.5 %, FeSo4 @ 0.5 %, Pungam (Pongamia pinnata) leaf extract @ 2 %, Prosopis (Prosopis juliflora) leaf extract @ 2 %, Arappu ( Albizia amara) leaf extract @ 2 % and Tamarind (Tamarindus indica) leaf extract @ 2 %. The treated seeds were dried under shade and in drying chamber to reach required moisture content for storage. The treated seeds along with control were stored in cloth bag and 700 gauge polythene bag under ambient condition of Annamalai nagar for a period of 10 months and were evaluated for seed quality characters viz germination percent, root length, shoot length, dry matter production, Vigour index, electrical conductivity and oil content at bimonthly intervals. The study clearly revealed the sesame seeds fortified with prosopis leaf extract @ 2 % and stored in 700 gauge polythene bag maintained its germination for minimum seed certification standard till the end of the storage period in sesame cv TMV 3. This type of storage treatment registered higher germination percentage, seedling length, dry matter production, vigour index and oil content with low electrical conductivity when compared to other treatments and control.