Effect of post priming storage duration on physiological and biochemical parameters of halo, hormonal and hydro primed cowpea seeds

Abstract

The present investigation was undertaken to study the effect of storage duration on physiological and biochemical parameters of halo, hormonal and hydro primed cowpea seeds. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomised design with four replications. Eighteen months old cowpea seeds were primed with KCl (1%), KNO3 (1%), GA3 (50 ppm), salicylic acid (50 ppm) and distilled water for 6 hours. Primed seeds were stored up to 45 days under normal room temperature. Experimental results revealed that at 45 days of storage duration, seeds primed with KCl recorded the highest germination count of 55.5% and the lowest electrical conductivity (1.0 dS/m); hydro primed seeds showed the highest seedling vigour index I (2374.60) & II (2532.95) along with the highest alpha amylase activity (0.271) and seeds primed with GA3 had the highest dehydrogenase activity (278.8 µg/ 20 ml/hr). Based on germination response index, vigour response index and biochemical response index it was suggested that priming of old cowpea seeds with distilled water and KCl could resist the seed quality deterioration that happened due to post priming storage.