Long-Term Seed Storage Studies in Radish (Raphanus sativus L.)

Abstract

Radish is an important root vegetable crop widely cultivated for its tender roots as well as for succulent foliage and immature pods which are used largely in salad and in culinary purposes and propagated through seeds. The information on storability as well as on extent of recovery of quality seeds upon conservation is inadequate. Seeds of radish cv. Pusa Reshmi were stored in moisture permeable, semi-impermeable and impermeable containers under different storage conditions for 25 years. Seed longevity was significantly improved from 2 to 25 years with controlled storage condition and it enabled to maintain high seed quality for 25 years. The percentage of seed germination was 88 in seeds stored in moisture impervious container at 5°C and -20°C storage. Seeds stored in moisture semi-impermeable containers also showed fairly high viability (79%) at 5°C storage, while seeds were succumbed to chilling injury when stored in moisture permeable containers. The extent of recovery of viable seeds was 89 per cent at 5°C and 88 per cent at -20°C after 25 years of storage. Seedlings from stored seeds were normal, healthy vigorous and free from morphological variations. Seed storage in radish in laminated aluminium foil pouches at 5°C was effective as well as cost effective in maintaining high viability (89%) for longer period (25 years) and useful in germplasm conservation avoiding thereby frequent growing of crop and genetic erosion.