Change of Germination rate for Chili pepper and Chinese cabbage seed in relation to packaging materials and storage conditions over 10 years

Abstract

Seed viability is affected by storage conditions and rapid loss of viability in storage is the major cause for low germination. This study was carried out to examine the effect of packaging materials and storage temperature on seed germination rate over 10 years in two species (Capsicum annuum L. and Brassica rapa L. ssp. pekinensis) and determine effective storage conditions for maintaining seed viability. Seeds were packaged in aluminum poly pouches under vacuum, polyethylene bottles, and paper bags containing silica gel and stored under one of two controlled conditions (15°C, RH 40% or 5°C, RH 30%) or at ambient condition. Seed germination was recorded at 6-month intervals for 10 years. The seeds of both species showed no decline in viability until 6.5 years at 15 or 5°C, irrespective of packaging materials. However, under ambient conditions, the seeds of chili pepper and Chinese cabbage in paper bags lost viability after 4 and 5 years, respectively. By contrast, seeds of both species in vacuum-aluminum poly pouches exhibited a 99% germination rate after 6 years under ambient conditions. Pepper seeds in the vacuum-aluminum poly pouches maintained a 93% germination rate after 10 years in ambient conditions. These results indicated that a special seed storage facility for maintaining viability of chili pepper and Chinese cabbage seed might not be essential and seed testing would not be necessary for 10 years, if chili pepper and Chinese cabbage seeds were packed in ambient/vacuum-aluminum poly pouches or 5°C/vacuum-aluminum poly pouches.