Department of Seed Science and Technology, Institute of Agricultural Science, 35 Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata, 700 019, India.
*Author for correspondence.
Pre-storage dry seed invigoration treatments of freshly harvested gram (Cicer arietinum L.) with chemicals (common bleaching powder at 2 g/kg of seed; calcium carbonate at 3 g/kg of seed and iodinated calcium carbonate at 3 g/kg of seed), pharmaceutical formulation (aspirin at 50 mg/kg of seed) and crude plant materials (finely powered dry red chilli fruit, at 1 g/kg of seed) showed significantly improved post-storage germinability as well as field performance of the resultant crop over untreated control. Among the dry treatments, bleaching powder, aspirin and red chilli powder has shown better results in improving storability and field performance of gram seeds. But pre-storage wet treatments did not show any improvement on germinability and field performance over control, probably due to soaking injury in harvest fresh (high-vigour) seed. On the basis of the result, dry treatments in high-vigour gram seeds with bleaching powder @2 g/kg of seed, aspirin @50 mg/kg of seed and red chilli powder @1 g/kg of seed are suggested for improved storability and field performance of gram.
