Effect of seed treatment with latex-mixture on germination and vigor in black gram during accelerated ageing

Abstract

Seeds get deteriorated in storage resulting in loss of germination and vigor. The rate of deterioration during storage increases as the seed moisture content and temperature increases. The present experiment was thus planned in laboratory to study the effect of latex-mixture on above aspects on seeds of black gram. Two varieties of black gram/urd bean (Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper) treated with latex-mixture extracted from latex-yielding plants i.e. Calotropis and Euphorbia were subjected to accelerated ageing conditions of storage for different periods (0 to 60 days) and tested for germination, seedling length and speed of germination. Ageing caused decrease in germination, seedling length and loss of seed vigor. The treated seeds showed significant increase in germination percent, seedling length and speed of germination at higher concentration i.e. from 40-100% over control in response to accelerated ageing condition of storage.