Effect of seed coating treatments on longevity of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seeds

Abstract

The experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of different seed coating treatments on seed longevity and further to identify the effective seed coating treatment for enhancing seed longevity in wheat seeds. The seeds of wheat variety HPW-155 were coated with nine different treatments comprising of polymer, fungicide, insecticide, polymer-fungicide and polymer-insecticide combinations. The treated and untreated seeds were stored in three replications for twenty-four months after packing in HDPE (high density polyethylene) interwoven non-laminated bags. The evaluation of seed quality parameters was made at bi-monthly intervals for twelve months. The experiment revealed that irrespective of seed coating, seed deteriorated and the vigour declined with aging of seeds. Amongst various treatments, seed coated with polymer @ 3 ml per kg of seed + vitavax 200 @ 2 g per kg of seed (T₆) was found superior for quality parameters viz., germination percentage (93.00%), speed of germination (18.45), seedling length (16.06cm), seedling dry weight (0.0116g), seedling vigour index – I (1494), vigour index -II (1.079) and field emergence (82.00%) at the end of 24 months of storage over untreated control (T₁). Hence, combination of polymer with vitavax can effectively be utilized to prevent the rapid deterioration of the seed during storage thereby maintaining the quality for a longer period of time.