Assessment of critical moisture content in the recalcitrant seeds of mango.
Girija T., Srinivasan P. S.
Author Affiliation: Dept. of Crop Physiology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore - 641 003, Tamil Nadu, India.
Madras Agricultural Journal 87 : 322-323
Abstract : The effect of natural desiccation on the germination and moisture content of the seeds of two mango cultivars, Neelum and Goa, was evaluated. Seeds of both mango cultivars were subjected to natural desiccation by placing them in a plastic tray and exposing them to sunlight during daytime for a period of 12 days. Data on stone/seed weight, percentage loss, seed germination and moisture content were recorded at two-day intervals from day 0 to day 12. The critical moisture content of the seeds, which is the moisture level up to which the seeds are able to maintain 50% viability, was calculated for both cultivars. Seed moisture content of both cultivars gradually decreased as the period of desiccation progressed. Decrease in seed moisture content increased the physiological weight loss in both cultivars, and resulted in significant decreases in stone weight and seed germination percentage. In both cultivars, complete lost of seed viability was observed after 10 days of natural desiccation. In mango cv. Neelum, complete lost of seed viability was observed at moisture levels below 29%, but more than 50% germination was observed when moisture content was 39%. In mango cv. Goa, germination was completely inhibited when moisture levels were below 34%, but more than 50% germination was observed when moisture content was 43%. Thus, the critical moisture content for Neelum and Goa was 39 and 43%, respectively.