Effect of maleic hydrazide on groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) seed quality

The experiment was conducted using three cultivars of groundnut viz., TG-26, TAG-24 and SB-XI sprayed with five concentrations of Maleic hydrazide viz., 250, 500, 750, 1000 and 1250 ppm along with control at two stages of crop growth viz., 60 and 90 DAS. The seed quality parameters recorded at 0 and 65 days after harvesting included seed mycoflora (%), 100 kernel weight (g), shelling percentage, oil content (%), protein content (%), seed viability (%) and sound mature kernel (%) against various concentrations of maleic hydrazide. Change in the concentration of maleic hydrazide application did not show any significant adverse or beneficial effect on the seed quality and does not cause a detrimental effect, as there was no loss of seed viability. The results showed that use of maleic hydrazide for the purpose of dormancy induction is not much harmful to seed quality.