Relative Growth Rate (RGR) and Electrical Conductivity changes in snake cucumber (Cucumis melo var.flexuoses Naud.) seeds under Accelerated Ageing conditions

Abstract

Seed ageing is a main problem during storage of seed. Un-suitable storage conditions with high moisture and temperature increases seed ageing. A seed of snake cucumber was subjected to the accelerated ageing conditions at 45C◦±1 and 100% relative humidity for various time intervals (0, 3, 7, 12 days), for evaluation of seed vigorisity . However increasing of ageing period caused significant increases in seed moisture content (from 7.53% in control to 21.27%), electrolytic leakage (from 194.73 in control to 783.30 μs/cm/25 seed) whereas germination percentage and seed vigor index was significantly decreased (from 99% at control to 0.0%) and (from 14.29 in control to 0.00) respectively after 12 days of accelerated ageing (seeds losing viability). Seedling length, fresh & dry weight also decreases with increased ageing period.Key Word: snake cucumber, seed accelerated ageing, vigor index, viability