Tobacco seed storage studies

Seed of tobacco varieties CTRI Spl, White gold and CTRI Spl MR stored at ambient temperature for a period of 15, 9 and 5 years along with desiccant, anhydrous calcium chloride gave germination of above 89% and their seed moisture was below 4%. The seed stored without desiccant for 9 and 5 years lost viability, but under ambient conditions up to one year the germination was above 80% and its seed moisture was 6.36%. Fresh seed lots gave above 90% germination and their moisture was below 4.5%. The biochemical analysis of the seed lots showed that seed stored for 9, 5 and one year without desiccant accumulated free fatty acids to a greater extent as comPared to corresponding seed lots stored with desiccant. The seed lots when sown in pots, 15 and 5 years old seed stored with deseccant gave higher germination and seedling as compared to seed stored for 9 years in big containers with desiccant and for one year without desiccant. It is concluded that seed stored with higher moisture, at ambient temperature, deteriorated faster resulting in loss of viability. But with seed moisture below 4% these degradative changes were slow and the seed remained viable for longer period.