Studies on seed development and harvesting stages and their impact for the maintenance of seed vigour in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Abstract

Studies were concerted on four promising varieties of rice in order to standardize their perfect stage of harvest and ideal harvesting tools/machine to be used for maintaining seed vigour based on their seed development and maturation under kharif/wet season. Findings advocated that the highest quality seed parameters viz., seed weight, germination and vigour were differed significantly with respect to maturity/harvest stages as well harvesting tools. Seed crop of rice harvested just after physiological maturity and or prior to field maturity followed by proper drying and threshing/winnowing minimized physical loss and maintained higher germination and vigour by the proceeding crop season. Impact of combine harvest on seed quality was drastically visualised. So if possible seed production crops/ plots should be avoided for combine harvest. If essentially required under some unavoidable circumstances, harvesting must be done at perfect harvest stage i.e. field maturity (around one week after physiological maturity) of crop following precise calibrations by its well expertized operator. If crop is harvested prior and after to respective maturation, poor seed quality i.e. below prescribed Indian Minimum Seed Certification Standard were appeared.