Effect of storage conditions and durations on seed viability and germination of pansy (Viola × wittrockiana)

The seeds of pansy were stored under three storage chambers [cold storage (0–4°C and 90±2.7% RH), incubator (20–22°C and 75±1.5% RH) and ambient conditions] and packed in five different packaging (cloth bag in desiccator, cloth bag, aluminium foil, plastic bin and polyethylene bag 600 gauze) for a period of 18 months. The maximum germination was recorded in cold store (30.97%) and minimum in ambient storage (22.82%) after 18 months of storage. Among the packaging, desiccator (27.89%) and poly set bin (27.83%) recorded highest germination. After six months of storage, the highest count (70.67%) was again recorded in desiccator under cold storage conditions and it was 57.33% in incubator and 37.00% at ambient storage. The maximum viability of seed was recorded in cold store (41.40%), which was significantly higher than incubator (32.21%) and ambient storage (29.89%) after 18 months. The seed storage in plastic bin and polyethylene bags exhibited non-significant differences with 35.27 and 34.74% viability, respectively and lowest viability in cloth bag (33.91%) after 18 months of storage.