Effect of accelerated ageing on onion (Allium Cepa L.)‎ seed quality

Abstract EN

sand in plastic pots under room conditions.

A completely randomized design with four and three replications, respectively, was used.

Germination as germination percentage (G %), mean germination time(mgt), germination uniformity (GU) and vigour as emergence percentage(E %), mean emergence time(MET) and emergence uniformity(EU), were evaluated.

Ageing has significant effects on both germination and vigour of onion seeds, especially if the seeds were above two years old.

The interactions between normal and AA were significant.

Seeds more than two years old had almost lost their vigour at 12.5 % seed moisture content (SMC) and 72 hours ageing duration (AD) at 45°C.

The highest AA (15% SMC and 96 hours AD) led to complete seed deterioration.

It could be concluded that onion seeds quality decreased significantly after two years storage.

AA treatment of 12.5% SMC and 72 hours AD may be suitable as vigour test of two years old onion seed lots and the AA treatment (10% SMC and 48 hours AD) for older seed lots.