K.K. RAGHURAMAN, T. RAMANADANE AND S. ARUNKUMAR
Abstract
Studies were conducted in the Seed Technology Unit of Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, PAJANCOA & RI,to standardise the suitable sieve size for seed grading in Dhaincha. The seeds sieved through BSS 8 (2.00 mm) registered the maximum seed recovery (88.6%) along with superior seed quality in terms of both physical and physiological seed quality attributes studied. The seeds obtained from BSS 8 had maximum 100 seed weight (2.047g), physical purity (98%), seed germination (92%), seedling vigour in terms of seedling length, vigour indices I (2240) and II (13.00) as well as speed of germination (31.83) as compared to BSS 9 and BSS 10 sieves. The superiority was also found in field emergence (76%) as well as pure live seeds (90.81%). Hence, the sieve size of BSS 8 is suitable for grading of dhaincha seeds. The superiority of BSS 8 sieve (2.00 mm) was observed in both physical and physiological parameters studied including field emergence as well as pure live seeds. A sieve size of 2.00 mm (BSS 8) can be considered as optimum; hence, it ensures that seed quality parameters are within acceptable limits of seed standards for processing dhaincha seeds.