EFFECT OF STORAGE PERIOD VARIETIES STORAGE ENVIRONMENTS AND PACKAGING MATERIAL ON COTTON GERMINATION AND SEEDLING PARAMETERS

This investigation was performed to study the effect of storage period, environments storage, packaging material and varieties on germination and seedling parameters of cotton varieties. Seed sample of six varieties i.e. G.94, G.86, G.85, G.96, G.92 and G.93 after ginning. The samples were stored in different packages (metal cans, Jute and Jute with plastic) and stored in three environments (dust, sand and ash) for 24 months at room temperature. Changes in seed germination and seedling parameters were determined through 12, 18 and 24 months as affected by storage period, environments and package materials. The results cleared that storage periods had highly significant effect on germination percentage, root length, stem length. dry weight, fresh weight and dry matter percentage. Prolonging storage period significantly decreased these traits. The highest values were obtained after 12 months and the lowest values at the end of the experiment, 24 months. Results indicated that a highly significant effect on all studied traits due to varieties. The lowest values were recorded by G.93 and G.92, while the higher values were obtained with G.94 and G.85 varieties. Results showed that seeds stored in metal cans preserved higher values of germination percentage and other traits, in Jute were registered the lowest value. Results also, showed that in dust preserved higher values for all the studied traits and the lowest values were in sand environment factors under the investigation of this study were highly significant for all studied traits. All types of interactions among the four factors under the investigation were highly significant for all studied traits. It could be recommended that using metal cans to store cotton seed till 24 months without any chemicals using dust environment is the best method for saving viability and seedling parameters under the conditions of Kafr ElSheikh region.