EFFECT OF POSTHARVEST FRUIT STORAGE ON
SEED QUALITY OF PUMPKIN
Remi Chakma*, M. N. Islam, M. A. Hossain, A. Nessa and R. Momotaz
*Corresponding
author, E-mail: remichakma@yahoo.co.in
Abstract
A
field experiment was conducted in the field of Seed Technology Division, Bangladesh
Agricultural Research Institute, Joydebpur,
Gazipur during December 2014 through April 2015 to find out the appropriate
post harvest fruit storage period (0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 month after fruit
harvest) for keeping seed quality of two pumpkin varieties ( BARI Mistikumra-2 and
local). The fruits were stored on wooden table under ambient condition. Results
showed that the stored fruits lost weights (9 to 35%) with the progress of
storage periods. Up to three months of storage period, seed quality in terms of
germination% and seedling vigour index of local cultivar gradually improved (up
to 100% and 7274 respectively) and thereafter tended to decrease. The BARI
Mistikumra 2 showed an increasing trend of germination up to four months (up to
99%) while the vigour index up to five months (9982). Local variety showed much
higher fresh weight of 100- seed (41-47 g per 100 seeds) compared to that of
the BARI Mistikumra 2 (15.25 – 21.92 g per 100 seeds). The fresh weight
of hundred seeds of BARI Mistikumra 2 decreased gradually (21.92 g to 15.25 g)
and so as the local variety (47 g to 41.2 g) after five months of storage. The
similar trend was observed in hundred dry seed weight in both varieties.
Key words: Pumpkin,
postharvest and seed quality.
