On the Germinability of Some Summer Vegetable Seeds Fumigated with Ethylene Dichloride and Carbon Tetrachloride Mixture

Studies were conducted to determine the possible harmful effects on the germinability of certain vegetable seeds when fumigated with 3:1 mixture of ethylene dichloride and carbon tetrachloride. The seeds tested were of the summer vegetables (zaid crop) and included Ghia tori (Luffa cylindrica), Kali tori (Luffa acutangula), Lauki (Lagenaria siceraria), Tinda (Citrullus vulgaris,) Sitaphal (Cucurbita moschata), Chichinda (Trichosanthes anguina), Karela (Momordica charantia) and Bhindi (Abelmoschus esculentus). Fumigation tests were conducted in the laboratory at dosages ranging from 20 to 80 pounds per 1000 cubic feet with two exposure periods of 48 and 96 hours. Germination tests were performed according to the official seed testing rules.

Technical problems that have been encountered in the study of the safety of the fumigant on the seeds are discussed in relation to the general seed technological procedures. It is believed that the method employed -will serve as a useful guide for determining the possible hazard of the modern insecticides or other agricultural chemicals on the seeds, where rapid and reproducible results are desired in the laboratory.

There was no evidence that fumigation with the mixture had any effect on the viability, rate of germination or production of normal seedlings on any kind of the seeds tested even when used at four times the normal quantity and double the exposure period.