Effect of seed priming treatments on quality and storage life of cucumber cv K-75 seeds under temperature-stress conditions

The present investigations were carried out in the Department of Vegetable Science, Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, Himachal Pradesh during 2010 and 2011. The seeds of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L) cv K-75 were primed with nineteen treatments comprising osmo-priming (PEG 6000-0.5 M Pa for 24 h, PEG 6000-1.5 M Pa for 24 h, PEG 6000-0.5 M Pa for 48 h and PEG 6000-1.5 M Pa for 48 h), halo-priming (Na₂HPO₄ 10⁻³ M for 24 h, Na₂HPO₄ 10⁻¹ M for 24 h, KHPO 10⁻³ M for 24 h, KH₂PO₄ 10⁻¹ M for 24 h, Na₂HPO₄ 10⁻³ M for 48 h, Na₂HPO₄ 10⁻¹ M for 48 h, KH₂PO₄ 10⁻³ M for 48 h and KH₂PO₄ 10⁻¹ M for 48 h), priming with growth regulator (GA₃ 100 ppm for 24 h, GA₃ 200 ppm for 24 h, GA₃ 100 ppm for 48 h and GA₃ 200 ppm for 48 h), hydro-priming (distilled water for 24 and 48 h) and a control (untreated). The seed storage study was carried out in the laboratory and the stored seeds were tested in a completely randomized design (CRD) with four replications. Seeds were primed with different primers at sub-optimal temperature (15°C) and stored for 3, 6, 9 and 12 months before testing for germination and vigour at 15°C in the germinator using towel paper. It was observed that seeds primed with PEG 6000-1.5 M Pa for 24 h exhibited best results in terms of characters like speed of germination, per cent germination, seedling length and dry weight and vigour index-I and II when stored up to 6 months. However after 6 months of storage there was a sharp decline in germination and vigour of primed seeds. Priming of seeds with PEG 6000-1.5 M Pa for 24 h may therefore be recommended to the growers and seed producers after on-farm testing in multi-location trials for better storage and higher yield in cucumber.