Effect of initial seed moisture content and storage periods on viability of cashew nut seeds (Anacardium occidentale L.)

English. This research was conducted at Physiology Laboratory and Green House of Research Institute for Spice and Medicinal Crops, from November 1995 to June 1996. The objective of the research was to study the effect of initial moisture content and storage periods on viability of cashew nut seeds. The research was arranged factorially in Completely Randomized Design with 3 replicates. The first factor was initial moisture content; (a) 17.2 percent, (b) 13.30 percent, (c) 12.42 percent, (d) 8.29 percent and (e) 6.72 percent. The second factor was storage periods; (a) 0 month, (b) 3 months, (c) 6 months. The parameters was seed moisture content, potential viability (seed germination), seed vigor (speed of germination), and activity of glutamic decarboxilase enzyme. The result showed that; interaction between initial moisture content and storage periods gave significantly effect on seed moisture content, potential viability and vigor of cashew nut seeds during storage periods. Seed viability by tetrazolium test showed that the storability of seed were up to 6 months if the initial moisture content were 6.72 percent and 8.29 percent. While by seed germination test and vigor test, the storability of seed were only up to 3 months

Indonesian. Penelitian ini telah dilaksanakan di Laboratorium dan rumah kaca Fisiologi Balai Penelitian Tanaman Rempah dan Obat, mulai bulan November 1995 - Juni 1996, dengan tujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh kadar air awal dan lama simpan terhadap viabilitas benih jambu mente. Rancangan yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah Rancangan Acak Lengkap Faktorial dengan 3 ulangan. Faktor yang diuji adalah: A. Kadar air awal simpan: (a) 17,20 persen, (b) 13,30 persen, (c) 12,42 persen, (d) 8,29 persen dan (e) 6,72 persen. B. Lama simpan: (a) 0 bulan, (b) 3 bulan dan (c) 6 bulan. Tolok ukur yang diamati adalah kadar air benih, viabilitas potensial (daya berkecambah), vigor benih (kecepatan tumbuh) serta aktivitas enzim glutamat dekarboksilase. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa: interaksi antara kadar air awal dan lama simpan berpengaruh nyata terhadap kadar air benih, viabilitas potensial dan vigor benih jambu mente selama periode simpan. Uji tetrazolium menunjukkan bahwa benih dapat dipertahankan sampai 6 bulan penyimpanan apabila benih disimpan dengan kadar air 6,72 persen, dan 8,29 persen. Sedangkan uji daya berkecambah dan uji kecepatan tumbuh menunjukkan viabilitas hanya dapat dipertahankan sampai 3 bulan penyimpanan