Seed enhancement studies in hybrid rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Abstract

Hybrid rice technology is practically feasible and readily adoptable genetic option to increase the productivity by 15-20% witnessed under irrigated ecosystem. The availability of high quality hybrid rice seed at affordable rate remained the real challenge. The inception of Cytoplasmic Male sterility system exhibiting partial panicle exertion, thus the delicate husk with opened glumes and higher doses of GA3 for synchronization of flowering are responsible for seed quality deterioration at faster rate compared to traditional rice. Storage of seed till the next sowing season is an essential segment of seed industry. The knowledge of seed storability help in avoiding huge financial losses happens due to seed deterioration ultimately fails to meet out the minimum quality requirements. Hence, the study was undertaken to know the storage potential of hybrid seed of NDRH-2 and parental lines, IR-58025A and IR-58025B stored in moisture pervious/impervious containers after coating of polymer and treatment with botanicals, bio-agents and fungicides. Studies revealed that the highest seed quality attributes of F1 seeds of NDRH-2 and its parental lines can be maintained till the next sowing season by coating with polykote @ 4ml diluted in 5ml of water and fungicidal treatment of vitavax 200 @ 2g/kg seed. Bio-agent Trichoderma viride seed treatment alone exhibited significantly at par germination but failed to preserve the other quality traits.