Effect of postharvest washing and post-storage priming on viability and vigour of six-year-old muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.) seeds from eight stages of development
1996
Oluoch, M.O. | Welbaum, G.E. (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg (USA). Department of Horticulture)
Muskmelon (Cucumis melo L., "TopMark") fruits were harvested at five day intervals from 30 to 65 days after anthesis (DAA). Seeds were removed and either dried without washing or washed vigorously for three hours and dried to a moisture content (MC) from 3.3 to 5.7 % on a dry weight basis. Seeds were stored for six years (seven months, 20 deg C and five years and five months, 10 deg C) in tightly sealed containers before germination testing at 20, 25, and 30 deg C and from 0 to -1.0 MPa water potential. Six-year-old seeds were aged using controlled deterioration (21 % MC, 45 deg C, up to seven days) or primed (0.3 M KNO3, six days, 25 deg C) then aged prior to germination testing on blotter paper for 21 days. Results were compared with germination at harvest. 30 and 35 DAA seeds had less than 25 % germination after storage. The germination of 40 and 45 DAA seeds exceeded 86 % in water at all temperatures, but four day root lengths were shorter and viability was lost more rapidly than in older seeds during controlled deterioration. 50, 55, and 60 DAA seeds showed the greatest resistance to controlled deterioration, were the most tolerant of reduced water potentials, and had the greatest four day root lengths. Washed seeds had higher germination percentages, lower mean times to germination, and greater resistance to controlled deterioration than unwashed seeds. Priming reduced viability, decreased the mean time to germination, reduced the rate of viability loss during controlled deterioration of 40 and 45 DAA seeds, but increased the rate for 55 DAA seeds. The highest quality seed was attained 50 to 60 DAA from fruit harvested after edible maturity but before the onset of severe decomposition
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