Prediction of seedling emergence in onion (Allium cepa) seed lots through saturated salt accelerated ageing test

PUNEET KUMAR SINGH; V K PANDITA; B S TOMAR

doi:10.56093/ijas.v85i7.50127

Authors

PUNEET KUMAR SINGH Manager (Quality control), FCI, Chhattisgarh
V K PANDITA Principal Scientist, IARI, RS, Karnal
B S TOMAR Principal Scientist, SPU, IARI, New Delhi 110 012

https://doi.org/10.56093/ijas.v85i7.50127

Keywords:

Allium cepa, Non-standard germination temperatures, Onion, Saturated salt accelerated ageing, Seedling emergence, Vigour tests

Abstract

The emergence of six seed lots of two onion (Allium cepa L.) cultivars Pusa Red and Pusa Madhvi was compared by standard germination, vigour index, germination at non-standard temperatures, accelerated ageing and saturated salt accelerated ageing tests. Germination tests were conducted at standard (20oC) and non-standard temperatures of 15oC, 25oC and 30oC. The accelerated ageing (AA) and saturated salt accelerated ageing (SSAA) tests were performed using four relative humidity levels, viz. standard AA (RH 100%), NaCl (RH 75%), Mg (NO₃)₂ (RH 53%) and CaCl₂ (RH 29%). These vigour tests were able to assess vigour differences among different seed lots. The field emergence percentage ranged from 32% to 55.5% in onion seed lots. Field emergence had non-significant correlation with germination at non-standard temperatures of 15oC, 25oC and 30oC. However, accelerated ageing (RH 100%) and saturated salt accelerated ageing using NaCl (RH 75%) showed positive and significant correlation value of 0.943 and 0.957, respectively. The regression analysis results for onion seed lots revealed that standard germination, accelerated ageing (AA) and saturated salt accelerated ageing (SSAA) test using NaCl (RH 75%) explain 88%, 88% and 91% variation in field emergence, respectively. The results suggest that saturated salt accelerated ageing (SSAA) test using NaCl (RH 75%) is useful vigour tests to predict seedling emergence in onion seed lots.

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