Seed Technology

during 2011-12 to reveal the influence of maturity stages and post-harvest ripening on seed quality among ten (Bhut jolokia, Merkera local, Sweet baccatum, Gandhari, Biligiri local, Majjige menasu, Chinense habanero, Hot cherry, Cherry pepper and Shivani) chilli genotypes belonging to Capsicum chinense, C. frutescence and C. annuum. The results revealed that among maturity stages, fruits harvested at red ripe stage and subjected for 20 days post-harvest ripening (M 4) has recorded higher seed quality parameters viz., 1000 seed dry weight (6.95 g), seed germination (66.0 %), seedling length (9.9 cm), seedling dry weight (1.50 mg), seedling vigour index-I (748), total dehydrogenase activity (1.314), -amylase activity (34.9 g maltose ml-1 min-1) and field emergence (56.0 %). Also minimum electrical conductivity (1.743 dSm-1) and moisture content of fresh seed (10.93 %) was noticed.

During soil and ecosystem development, nutrient levels change as a result of weathering. Essential elements for plant growth such as calcium, magnesium, potassium and phosphorus usually have their concentrations reduced, soil pH and clay activity tend to decrease and mineralogical composition changes (Smeck, 1973; Walker and Syers, 1976; Uehara and Gillman, 1981; Allen and Fanning, 1988). During this process, morphological characteristics of soils are also altered in response to the weathering forces of their environment. Blue-green algae (BGA) are photosynthetic prokaryotic microorganisms some of which are capable of nitrogen fixation. Such trophic independence with regard to nitrogen and carbon, together with a great adaptability to variations of environmental factors enables BGA to be ubiquitous (Fogg et al., 1973). The paddy field ecosystem provides an environment favorable for the growth of BGA with respect to their requirements for light, water, high temperature and nutrient availability. This

Storage of maize seeds under ambient hot and humid conditions is very problematic since these conditions deteriorate seed quality faster. Many biochemical changes are linked to the process of seed deterioration and the changes during accelerated aging were mostly the same as those in natural ageing with only difference being the rate at which they occur. Decreased vigour and viability follows increased ageing. Impairment in the quantity and quality total soluble protein content and protein profiles also showed alteration in their number and intensity of bands in aged seeds. Quantitative and qualitative changes in protein were detected during ageing. This work establishes association between seed viability and age accumulation, due to protein deterioration, in maize seeds.

Objective: A laboratory experiment was conducted to know the effect of BGA extract on seedling growth. Methods: Different concentrations of algal extract were used for seed treatment (25%, 50%, 75%, 100% and untreated) in crops viz., Chilli, Tomato, Carrot, Beans, Maize, Paddy and Ragi were. Then the observation on shoot length, root length, seedling length and seedling dry weight were recorded. Results: In this study significantly higher (11.45 cm) shoot length was recorded in BGA @100%. Significant differences were recorded among the crops when they subjected for various concentrations of BGA for shoot length. Significantly higher (18.93 cm) root length was observed in Maize and lower (6.99 cm) shoot length was recorded in Cucumber. Meanwhile, higher (11.57 cm) root length was recorded in BGA @ 50% concentration. Among crops higher (21.22 cm) root length was observed in Maize and lower (5.52 cm) root length was recorded in Ragi. However, higher (22.42 cm) mean seedling length was ...

during 2011-12 to reveal the influence of maturity stages and post-harvest ripening on seed quality among ten (Bhut jolokia, Merkera local, Sweet baccatum, Gandhari, Biligiri local, Majjige menasu, Chinense habanero, Hot cherry, Cherry pepper and Shivani) chilli genotypes belonging to Capsicum chinense, C. frutescence and C. annuum. The results revealed that among maturity stages, fruits harvested at red ripe stage and subjected for 20 days post-harvest ripening (M 4) has recorded higher seed quality parameters viz., 1000 seed dry weight (6.95 g), seed germination (66.0 %), seedling length (9.9 cm), seedling dry weight (1.50 mg), seedling vigour index-I (748), total dehydrogenase activity (1.314), -amylase activity (34.9 g maltose ml-1 min-1) and field emergence (56.0 %). Also minimum electrical conductivity (1.743 dSm-1) and moisture content of fresh seed (10.93 %) was noticed.

During soil and ecosystem development, nutrient levels change as a result of weathering. Essential elements for plant growth such as calcium, magnesium, potassium and phosphorus usually have their concentrations reduced, soil pH and clay activity tend to decrease and mineralogical composition changes (Smeck, 1973; Walker and Syers, 1976; Uehara and Gillman, 1981; Allen and Fanning, 1988). During this process, morphological characteristics of soils are also altered in response to the weathering forces of their environment. Blue-green algae (BGA) are photosynthetic prokaryotic microorganisms some of which are capable of nitrogen fixation. Such trophic independence with regard to nitrogen and carbon, together with a great adaptability to variations of environmental factors enables BGA to be ubiquitous (Fogg et al., 1973). The paddy field ecosystem provides an environment favorable for the growth of BGA with respect to their requirements for light, water, high temperature and nutrient availability. This

Objective: A laboratory experiment was conducted to know the effect of BGA extract on seedling growth. Methods: Different concentrations of algal extract were used for seed treatment (25%, 50%, 75%, 100% and untreated) in crops viz., Chilli, Tomato, Carrot, Beans, Maize, Paddy and Ragi were. Then the observation on shoot length, root length, seedling length and seedling dry weight were recorded. Results: In this study significantly higher (11.45 cm) shoot length was recorded in BGA @100%. Significant differences were recorded among the crops when they subjected for various concentrations of BGA for shoot length. Significantly higher (18.93 cm) root length was observed in Maize and lower (6.99 cm) shoot length was recorded in Cucumber. Meanwhile, higher (11.57 cm) root length was recorded in BGA @ 50% concentration. Among crops higher (21.22 cm) root length was observed in Maize and lower (5.52 cm) root length was recorded in Ragi. However, higher (22.42 cm) mean seedling length was recorded in BGA @75% concentration. Significantly higher (40.14 cm) seedling length was observed in Maize and lower (12.92 cm) seedling length was recorded in Ragi. Seedling dry weight varied significantly, higher (21.26 mg) Seedling dry weight was recorded in BGA @100% concentration meanwhile, higher (63.71 mg) seedling dry weight was observed in Maize and lower (4.22 mg) seedling dry weight was recorded in Carrot. And lower shoot length (7.99 cm), root length (8.05 cm), seedling length (16.04 cm) seedling dry weight (16.85 mg) were observed in control. Conclusion: The results revealed that algal extract able to increase the seedling growth.