Interactive Effect of Seed Pelleting Treatments and Storage Duration on Seed Quality and Vigour in Tomato

High-quality seed is a critical input for achieving uniform crop establishment, vigorous plant growth and higher productivity. The present investigation was undertaken to evaluate the effect of different seed pelleting treatments on seed quality and storability of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) cv. Punjab Ratta under different storage durations. The experiment was conducted in a factorial completely randomized design comprising eleven seed pelleting treatments and five storage durations (0, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months). Significant variations were observed among pelleting treatments and storage durations for most of the seed quality parameters studied. Seeds treated with Captan/Thiram (2 g kg-1 seed) (T11) recorded the highest mean germination percentage (84.51%), seedling length (17.27 cm), seed vigour index I (1462.08), seed vigour index II (17.57) and field emergence (86.50%) throughout the storage period. Among microbial pelleting treatments, Azotobacter (200–300 g kg-1 seed) (T6) and Pseudomonas (200–300 g kg-1 seed) (T8) showed better performance compared with non-pelleted seeds (T1). Seed quality parameters, including germination percentage, seedling vigour indices and field emergence, declined progressively with increase in storage duration, indicating gradual deterioration associated with seed ageing. However, moisture content and 100 seed weight exhibited relatively stable trends during storage. The study demonstrated that seed pelleting, particularly with fungicidal and microbial formulations, effectively delayed seed deterioration and helped maintain seed viability, vigour and field performance during storage. Thus, seed pelleting can be recommended as an effective seed enhancement technique for improving storability and establishment potential of tomato seeds.