MAINTENANCE OF VIGOR AND VIABILITY OF STORED PEA (PISUM-SATIVUM L) SEEDS

To determine the most efficacious midstorage hydration-dehydration treatment for preservation of vigour and viability of stored pea seeds (Pisum sativum L.), cultivar Bonneville, three methods viz., soaking-drying, moisture equilibration-drying and moist sand conditioning-drying each at varying durations were evaluated. Irrespective of the durations of treatment, soaking-drying proved injurious. Though all durations of moisture equilibration excepting 72 and 120 h outperformed the control, yet 48 h proved to be the best. Preconditioning with moist sand (5 % moisture content) with seed at a ratio of 1 : 2.5 for different durations revealed 48 h to be the optimum, 72-96 h to be innocuous and thereafter injurious. Maintenance of membrane integrity and counteraction of lipid peroxidation may be the possible reasons for such beneficial effects.