Upholding Seed Quality with Mid-storage Invigoration Treatments in Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

The groundbreaking research investigated the impact of mid-storage invigoration treatments on seed quality parameters in rice. The experimental design used in the study was Completely Randomized Design with three replications. The experiment was conducted at the Regional Agricultural Research Station, Pattambi, Kerala Agricultural University. The objective of the study was to understand the effect of mid-storage invigoration treatments on seed storage under ambient conditions. An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of ten different treatments on the quality of seeds, specifically the germination percentage, seed vigour index I, electrical conductivity, and mean germination time. The treatments tested were control- untreated seeds, hydration and dehydration treatment 1l/kg, ascorbic acid 10g/kg, calcium chloride 10g/kg, albizzia leaf powder 2g/kg, neem cake 5g/kg, neem leaf powder 2g/kg, neem oil 2ml/kg, red chilli powder 1g/kg and vayambu leaf powder 2g/kg. The rice variety Jyothi was used. Results showed that all the mid-storage invigoration treatments significantly improved the germination rate of the treated seeds when compared to the control under ambient storage conditions. Neem oil when used showed the highest germination percentage after five months of storage. In the last month of storage, neem oil showed a significantly higher vigour index which was comparable to hydration dehydration treatment and red chilli powder. Germination percentage and seedling vigour index I are positively associated with seed quality. Electrical conductivity and mean germination time are negatively correlated with seed quality. The least electrical conductivity was recorded in hydration dehydration treatment. Neem oil and hydration dehydration treatment had low mean germination time. Based on the research conducted, neem oil, hydration-dehydration, and red chili powder are the most effective treatments for improving the longevity of seeds. These eco-friendly and cost-effective mid-storage invigoration seed treatments can help farmers enhance the quality of their seeds and extend their storage life.