INFLUENCE OF SEED TREATMENT CHEMICALS AND CONTAINERS ON SEED QUALITY OF MARIGOLD DURING STORAGE

Abstract

Studies were conducted to know the effect of seed treatment and containers on seed quality of marigold during storage. Result from the study indicated that seed treated with chlorax and stored in double layer polythene bag recorded higher seed quality parameters viz., significantly higher germination (49.25% and 38.81%), root length (4.13 cmand 3.30 cm), shoot length (3.51 cm and 3.90 cm), vigour index (376 and 281), germination rate index (11.31 and 11.04) and field emergence (43.25% and 33.44) with lowest electrical conductivity of seed leachate (1.292 dSm^-1 and 1.856 dSm^-1), respectively of marigold at the end of storage. With the advance in the storage period, an increase in moisture, seed health and electrical conductivity of seed were observed. Therefore, these treatments can be used for storage of marigold seeds in order to maintain viability.