National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, New Delhi-12.
Variation in the longevity of French bean and cowpea seeds under ambient (20–43°C) and accelerated ageing conditions were studied in ten French bean and five cowpea lines differing in seed size and seed coat colour. Significant differences in the storability among the genotypes, storage periods and the interaction genotype and storage periods were observed. Germination%age in the various French bean genotypes ranged from 0–67% after 15 months of storage under ambient conditions and by 30 months most genotypes were dead. In cowpea all genotypes, except IC 45409, retained germination values ranging from 66 to 96% after 3 years of storage under ambient conditions. Seed germination after accelerated aging was positively correlated with that after natural ageing under ambient conditions and negatively with seed weight. Under ambient storage conditions French beans are poor storers as compared to cowpeas.
Accelerated ageing, Cowpea, French bean, Longevity, Natural ageing
