Efficacy of extraction methods on seed storage in eggplant (Solanum melongena L.)

The relative efficacy of five extraction methods (sun, traditional, acid, sodium carbonate and sodium chloride) on seed storage of eggplant over a period of 10 years was investigated. The initial germination was 100% on freshly extracted seeds in all the methods except for the acid extraction procedure (83.3%). Seed viability reduced significantly in 10 years for acid, sodium carbonate and sun extraction methods (0%, 93%, 86.7% respectively). Mean values for root length (6.1cm), shoot length (4.5cm) and vigour index (998) were found to be maximum at eight months after extraction across the methods. The acid extraction method was found to be most deleterious for medium-term storage requirements. Both the traditional extraction (pulp squeezed and washed in water and seed shade-dried) and the sodium carbonate methods were found to be the best for medium-term storage as it was beneficial to germination percentage and seed vigour. Being less tabour intensive, the Sodium carbonate method is suggested for large-scale seed extraction for medium term storage.