Effect of packaging materials and moisture content on seed storability of onion

Abstract

The present investigation was carried out during 2016-2018 to study the effect of seed moisture and packaging material on seed quality of onion. The onion seeds of cv. Arka kalyan of different moisture levels i.e. 7, 5 and 3 per cent were packed in different packaging materials i.e. cloth bags, aluminum pouch, polythene bag with 700 gauge and 300 and stored at ambient conditions for 20 months. The seed quality parameters were recorded every bimonthly upto the end of the storage period. The results indicated that germination per cent and other quality parameters were higher in seed having 5 % moisture than seed having 3 and 7 % moisture. Seeds with higher moisture lost viability faster than seed with low moisture after 20 months of storage. Among the packing materials, lower seed germination and other quality parameters was recorded with cotton cloth bag. The seeds packed in cloth bags lost their complete germinability within 18 months of storage. The higher seed germination was observed with aluminum pouch. The seeds stored in aluminum foil recorded above 70 per cent of germination upto 14 months of storage. Among the various treatment combinations seeds with 5 % moisture content and packed in aluminum pouch marked above 70 per cent germination upto 16 months of storage. All other parameters were higher in this treatment than other treatments. There as a reduction in the seed quality as the storage period increased due to increased lipid peroxidation, decreases activities of free radicals and peroxide scavenging enzymes. Electrical conductivity was increased with storage period especially at higher levels in case of high moisture seeds and stored in cloth bags. Thus, adoption of appropriate packaging material and moisture content would maintain the better seed quality.