Storage Behaviour of Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) Seeds under Different Storage Condition

Background: Seed deterioration is an unavoidable process during seed storage resulting in declined germination and vigour of the seeds and the seeds have different storage potential under different storage condition. Maintenance of germination and vigour requires new alternative method of storage conditions viz., packaging material and temperature conditions. Storage potential of groundnut seeds cv. VRI 8 and the changes associated with the seeds stored under different storage conditions were investigated in this study. Methods: The efficiency of modified atmospheric storage with different combination of CO2, N2 and O2 and vacuum packaging under different storage temperature (25°C, 5°C and -5°C) for maintaining the storage behaviour of seeds up to 8 months were evaluated and the gas mixture was checked in gas analyzer at regular intervals. Result: The seeds stored under modified atmospheric storage (MAS) condition with a gas mixture of 0% CO2, 100% N2 and 0% O2 at -5°C temperature condition, maintained germination and seed vigour above 70% with a minimum increase in seed moisture content even after 8 months of storage and even when these seeds kept under ambient condition also maintained germination above 70% after 8 months of storage while the seeds stored under ambient condition registered less germination of below 70% by 6 months of storage itself. Down-regulation of antioxidant defence system viz., catalase and peroxidase activity and the minimum accumulation of malondialdehyde and H202 content in the embryo indicated the less oxidative damage in the seeds stored under MAS compared to ambient condition. Thus, the study highlighted that the seeds have better storage potential under modified atmospheric storage condition with low atmospheric temperature through maintaining the seed quality by reducing their metabolic activity and storing these seeds under ambient condition could be a cost-effective method.