SEED EVALUATION AFTER CRYOPRESERVATION IN ONION (ALLIUM CEPA L.) CULTIVARS

Abstract

Onion seeds though orthodox in nature have short shelf life. Low temperature .
storage has ,been strongly recommended for the long term storage of such
seeds, Cryopreservation (-180°C, vapour phase of liquid nitrogen) has proved
useful in a number of orthodox seeds, These seeds could be successfully stored
under cryopreservation because decline in seed germination and seedling vigour
due to ,storage at AT can be almost completely controlled, Membrane integrity
and lipid peroxidation studies were used to assess the metabolic changes
accompanying seed storage, Lipid peroxidation was found to be closely associated
with the decline in germination and vigour characteristics but this correlation
could not be established with membrane integrity