Quality assessment of pea (Pisum sativum L.) seeds using the controlled deterioration technique

Abstract

A three-factor experiment was set at the Horticulture Laboratory, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur, to study the effects of the controlled deterioration (CD) on the pea seeds at the constant temperature of 35 ℃. The 3 factors considered were: 3 pea seed sources (Rangpur Local/RL, Dinajpur Local/DL and Thakurgaon Local/TL); 3 ageing periods (0, 8 and 16 days); and 3 seed moisture contents (12, 16 and 20% MC). The 27 treatment combinations compared in the CRD with the 3 repetitions for the 8 arenas were: % germination, % abnormal seedlings, % dead seeds, % soil emergence and seedling evaluation test for the root and shoot lengths as well as their dry matter contents. Identical prototypes of notable (5–1% level) degradations were recorded everywhere. But the disparities were lucid under the extreme stresses. Moreover, highly noteworthy (1% level) relations were traced amid all the traits ranging from -0.9847 (soil emergence × abnormal seedling) to 0.9623 (soil emergence × normal seedling). So, the CD technique was very effectual in judging the physiological statuses of the seed sources studied. Thus, the germination test might be add-on by a vigor test, the latter of which could be assessed by quantifying the seedlings’ root and shoot lengths and/or their dry matter accumulations. Moreover, in the seed quality certification, the suitable limits of vigor for the chosen traits could also be got by this technique. But the seeds of several pea varieties should be exploited to fix-up the agreeable limits of the traits. Furthermore, to save time, the ageing period could be squeezed by raising the seed MC.