Botany Department, University School of Sciences, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad-380009
Seeds of maize (Zea mays L. cv. African Tall) were stored at 7.5% moisture content (m.c.) in 100 and 300 gauge sealed polythene bags at room-temperature (ambient: 35±5°C), in B.O.D. incubator (moderate : 25±1°C) and low temperature (4-6°C). When seeds lost viability by 50% (after 12 months, at ambient and moderate temperatures), seeds were presoaked for 6 h in the aqueous solutions of GA3, Kinetin (10-5 M) and distilled water. A remarkable increase in germination (50 to 70-90 %) was observed. Seedling growth in terms of length, fresh weight and dry weight was also enhanced. Untreated seeds lost viability after 16 months, whereas pretreated seeds took 20-22 months to lose its full viability.
