Extending Seed Viability in Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) under Ultra-dry Moisture and Vacuum Storage

The groundnut or peanut seed possess very short viability. Thus, it is usually stored along with pod and at the time of sowing, the seeds are decorticated and used.

An experiment was conducted to extend the storability of decorticated seeds (kernels) by ultra-dry moisture content and vacuum packing in the Department of Seed Science and Technology, Seed Centre, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore during 2020–23.

The results showed that the kernels with 5.0% moisture content, vacuum packed and stored at -20°C, -5°C and 5°C have maintained the germination above Indian minimum seed certification standards (IMSCS) i.e. more than 70% upto 20 months. However, the kernels with 6.0% moisture content and stored under ambient condition have showed a rapid reduction in germination and recorded 68% in four months storage. Nevertheless, the kernels dried with 3.5% moisture were not able to withstand the moisture loss and recorded reduction in germination at six months period. The seedling vigour was also maintained in the kernels stored at -20°C, -5°C and 5°C with 5.0% seed moisture. Further, histological studies indicated that the seeds dried to 5.0% moisture content and stored at low temperature had intact seed coat and cells whereas, they were damaged when the seeds dried to 3.5% moisture content. Hence, because of better viability, reduced space required for storage and easy to transport, conservation of kernels would be highly cost-effective under the controlled environmental conditions, as compared to pod storage.