TEMPORAL VARIATION IN SEED QUALITY OF CUCUMBER (Cucumis sativus L.) STORED IN DIFFERENT CONTAINERS

The experiment was conducted at outreach activity centre of Bangabandu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University (BSMRAU), Gazipur, Bangladesh during April 2013 to June 2013 to study the temporal variation in seed quality of cucumber stored in different containers viz. plastic pot (T₁), polythene bag (T₂), cloth bag (T₃). Moisture content, germination percent, germination rate, 1000-seed weight, electrical conductivity, seedling dry matter, shoot length and root length were tested every 15 days interval. The moisture content of seed in T₁, T₂ and T₃ were 8.220%, 8.370% and 9.010% respectively at 60 days after observation (DAO) whereas initial moisture content was 8.150%. The electrical conductivity of seed in T₁, T₂ and T₃ were 45.20 (dS/cm), 50.71 (dS/cm) and 61.30 (dS/cm) respectively at 60 DAO, whereas initial electrical conductivity was 26.47 (dS/cm). The germination percent of seed in T₁, T₂ and T₃ were 68%, 62% and 57% respectively at 60 DAO, whereas initial germination percent was 82%. The germination rate of seed in T₁, T₂ and T₃ were 44.72, 37.09 and 36.83 respectively at 60 DAO, whereas initial germination rate was 58.90. The seedling dry matter of seed in T₁, T₂ and T₃ were 0.160g, 0.150g and 0.110g respectively at 60 DAO, whereas initial seedling dry matter was 0.20g. The shoot length in T₁, T₂ and T₃ were12.42mm, 12.41mm and 12.16mm respectively at 60 DAO, whereas initial shoot length was 12.53mm. The root length in T₁, T₂ and T₃ were 3.121mm, 3.081mm and 2.809mm respectively at 60 DAO, whereas initial root length was 3.14mm. Result revealed that increasing storage period is the cause of decreasing seed quality of cucumber seed.