Desiccation and Freezing Sensitivity of Selected Groundnut Genotypes for Germplasm Conservation | A

The Series of experiments were carried out to determined the sensitivity of five groundnut genotypes which were: Sodari, Ghibaish, Barberton, ICGV121 and Advance to desiccation under 7 saturated salt solutions with specific relative humidity at 35ºC and freezing in liquid nitrogen temperature (-196ºC) using desorption drying method. The objectives of the study were to quantify seed desiccation and freezing sensitivity and their relations to seed viability. The equilibrium seed water content of desiccated seeds, germination percentages and rates of desiccated and desiccated-frozen seeds, WC50, water activity, water potential, HMFL and their correlations with other parameters were determined. Equilibrium mean water content in gH2Og-1dw was determined gravimetrically when seeds were oven-dried under 105ºC for 24 hrs. Seed desiccation sensitivity, (designated as WC50) was obtained using the Quantal Quadric response model. Freezing sensitivity was determined using high moisture freezing limit (HMFL). The significant increases in seed viability (germination %) with decreases in equilibrium water content observed in this study. All seeds withstand low level of equilibrium water content (below 0.1 gH2Og-1dw) implying that, there were not sensitive to desiccation and freezing as determined by sensitivity indicators (WC50, wa50, Ψ50 and HMFL). In contrast, Barberton, Ghibaish and the Advance line showed less sensitivity to liquid nitrogen (HMFL value of 0.1 gH2Og-1dw) compared to Sodari and ICGV121 (HMFL values of 0.06 and 0.05 gH2Og-1dw, respectively). Correlation analyses indicated that, equilibrium seed water content was positively correlated with seed germination after desiccation and freezing. WC50 was positively correlated with HMFL indicating that the sensitivity of seeds to freezing depends upon its level of desiccation

Please read full article –https://globalpresshub.com/index.php/ABAARJ/