Effect of Longevity on Seed Quality of Chiang Phatthalung Rice Variety

Abstract

Chiang Phatthalung rice seed stored in plastic woven bag and kept in polystyrene foam box at room temperature for 12 months was investigated for quality after storage. The seeds were sampling at 0, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after storage and subjected to test for moisture content, standard germination, mean germination time, first count germination, soil emergence, electrical conductivity, shoot length, root length and seedling dry weight. The correlation of seed quality traits after stored at room temperature were revealed. The result showed that the seeds with 12.32% moisture content and standard germination of 97.00% stored in room temperature had standard germination of 82.50% after being stored for 3 months. Seed germination and vigor rapidly decreased after being stored for 6-9 months. The standard germination had high correlation with first count germination (r=0.86**). Mean germination time, first count germination and soil emergence showed high correlation with seedling growth rate in terms of shoot length (r=0.49* r=0.78** และ r=0.81** respectively), root length (r=0.60** r=0.71** และ r=0.86** respectively), and seedling dry weight  (r=0.66** r=0.61** และ r=0.76** respectively).and the electrical conductivity had negative correlation with shoot length (r=-0.51* ). Such information may be helpful for developing the appropriate Chiang Phatthalung rice seed storage method for the southern climate and the seed testing method which correlates to rice seedling establishment in the paddy field.