INTRODUCTION

Radish (Raphanus sativus L.) is an important root
vegetable crop in Europe and Asia.  It is predominantly
cultivated for tender roots, and also for succulent foliage
and immature pods which are used in preparation of various
vegetable dishes. Crop is propagated by seeds. Seed storage
is widely practiced for preservation of genetic resources
especially for medium to long term conservation and it is
popular amongst conservationist in view of easy handling,
economical and able to maintain genetic stability on
conservation. Seeds are readily equipped to survive for a
period that varies in different species. As a living entity it
retains viability to a specific period and eventually it
deteriorates and dies. The process of seed deterioration is
rather irreversible and it cannot be eliminated totally. Further,
decrease in seed viability during storage can neither be
completely stopped nor eliminated. However the process
of seed deterioration reduces under suitable storage
conditions. Such information on an extent of recovery of
viable seeds possible at different stages during long term
conservation is lacking in radish. Improper handling of seeds

Long-term seed storage studies in radish (Raphanus sativus L.)

S.D. Doijode
Indian Institute of Horticultural Research

Hessaraghatta Lake Post, Bangalore – 560 089
E-mail: dsd@iihr.ernet.in

ABSTRACT

Radish is an important root vegetable crop widely cultivated for its tender roots as well as for succulent foliage and
immature pods which are used largely in salad and in culinary purposes and propagated through seeds. The information
on storability as well as on extent of recovery of quality seeds upon conservation is inadequate. Seeds of radish cv. Pusa
Reshmi were stored in moisture permeable, semi-impermeable and impermeable containers under different storage
conditions for 25 years.  Seed longevity was significantly improved from 2 to 25 years with controlled storage
condition and it enabled to maintain high seed quality for 25 years. The percentage of seed germination was 88 in
seeds stored in moisture impervious container at 5°C and –20°C storage.  Seeds stored in moisture semi-impermeable
containers also showed fairly high viability (79%) at 5°C storage, while seeds were succumbed to chilling injury
when stored in moisture permeable containers. The extent of recovery of viable seeds was 89 per cent at 5°C and 88
per cent at –20°C after 25 years of storage.  Seedlings from stored seeds were normal, healthy vigorous and free from
morphological variations.  Seed storage in radish in laminated aluminium foil pouches at 5°C was effective as well as
cost effective in maintaining high viability (89%) for longer period (25 years) and useful in germplasm conservation
avoiding thereby frequent growing of crop and genetic erosion.

Key words: Radish, seeds, storage, low temperature, viability, vigour, germination

during storage likely to affects the seed quality and storability.
High storage temperature and high seed moisture during
storage enhances the process of seed deterioration and
affect the seed quality (Bass, 1980). Low seed moisture
discourages the fungal growth (Christensen and Kaufman,
1965) thereby seeds remain viable for longer period (Minkov
et al, 1974). Sowing of poor quality seeds affects the crop
yield (Frohlich and Henkel, 1964). Seed longevity is an
important component of germplasm collection and
conservation. The present experiment was conducted with
the view to know the seed longevity status on long term
conservation and to ascertain the extent of recovery of viable
seeds possible in a given period. Such information is lacking
in radish and an experiment was conducted to determine
optimal conditions for long term seed storage as well as to
generate information on extent of recovery of germplasm
possible in a given period.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Radish cv Pusa Reshmi seeds were conserved
under different storage conditions. Well dried seeds (6.5 %
mc) were packed in moisture permeable (Kraft paper); semi-

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62

impermeable (polyethylene, 0.3 ml) and impermeable
(laminated aluminium foil pouches) containers and stored
at ambient (16-35°C), low (5°C) and sub-zero (-20°C)
temperatures for 25 years. Seeds were removed periodically
and tested for viability and vigour. The seed viability was
expressed in percentage of germination.  Seeds were
germinated in Clelands seed germinator at an alternate
temperature of 20-30°C for 16 and 8 hr, respectively. Normal
seedlings were used for evaluation purposes. Seedling growth
parameters such as shoot length and root length were
recorded on seven days old seedling. Dry weight was
recorded on seedlings dried at 65°C for 48 hr. Vigour indices
I and II were calculated by multiplying percentage of
germination with seedling length and dry weight respectively
(Abdul-Baki and Anderson, 1972). The data was statistically
analysed for variance and means were compared by using
protected least significant differences test at the 0.05 level.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Radish seeds are small and have relatively good
storage life under ambient conditions (Doijode, 2005). The
initial seed viability (99%) was reduced to 88% after 25
years of storage under controlled storage conditions. The
percentage of germination was 28 in moisture permeable;
79 in semi-impermeable and 89 in impermeable containers
stored seeds at 5°C (Fig.1), whereas none of the seeds
germinated when stored in moisture permeable and semi
impermeable containers at –20°C storage. However, seeds
showed high germination (88%) when stored in moisture
impermeable container at –20°C. Seeds exhibit high
longevity in moisture impermeable containers both at low
(5°C) and sub-zero (-20°C) temperatures. Seeds stored in
moisture semi-impermeable container at 5°C also showed
higher storability. Villareal et al (1972) also reported that
seed storage in polyethylene bags was effective especially
under dry conditions. The loss of seed viability was greater
in seeds stored in moisture permeable containers when
exposed to chilling temperature as the moisture content was
increased to 18.4%.  The seedling vigour in terms of shoot

length, root length, dry weight and vigour indices were also
preserved with controlled storage conditions (Table 1).
Seedlings raised from stored seeds were normal and did
not show any morphological variations. High storage
temperatures promote the seed deterioration and reduce the
seed longevity (Fonseca et al, 1980). Further the process
of seed deterioration was greater in moisture permeable
containers due to higher humidity thereby affecting the seed
quality (Bass and Clark, 1974). Harrington (1972) opined
that seed deterioration was slower at cooler temperature.
Apart from the seed viability, seed quality in terms of seedling
vigour was also well preserved with low temperature
storage. High seed quality at initial stages contributes greatly
to the longer conservation, and on storage for higher
production (Doijode, 2006). The results suggest that radish
seeds conserved at low temperatures exhibit high viability
and vigour. In this both moisture semi impermeable and
impermeable containers are effective in maintaining high
viability at low (5°C) and sub zero (-20°C) temperatures.

Table 1.  Seedling characteristics of radish seeds after 25 years of storage

Storage Storage Vigour Vigour Vigour Dry weight Root length Shoot length
Temperature (°C) containers index II index I (mg) (cm) (cm)

5 Moist Per 4.6 5.8 3.8 4.0 319 106
Moist Semi 5.2 6.3 4.4 11.3 908 348
Moist Imp 5.3 6.2 4.5 12.7 1023 400

-20 Moist Per — — — — — —
Moist Semi — — — — — —
Moist Imp 13.0 13.8 4.8 12.6 2358 422

CD at 5% 0.57 1.83 NS 0.65 234 26

Fig 1. Seed viability after 25 years of storage in radish

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Vol. 5 (1): 61-63, 2010

Doijode



63

As simple and cost effective seed storage technique, radish
seeds can be stored effectively as well as economically in
laminated aluminium pouches at 5°C. The ideal seed storage
method is the one which is readily accessible, inexpensive
and capable of maintaining high genetic quality on long term
storage. Seed germplasm can be kept in moisture semi
impermeable containers at 5°C. The recovery of viable seeds
was 89 per cent after 25 years of storage at 5°C, which is
effective and economical and breeder can effectively
conserve germplasm for longer period.

REFERENCES

Abdul-Baki, A.A. and Anderson, J.D. 1972. Physiological
and biochemical deterioration of seeds. In Seed
Biology  (Ed Kozlowski T.T.) Academic Press New
York pp 283-309

Bass, L. N. 1980. Seed viability during long term storage.
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Bass, L. N. and Clark, D.C.  1974. Effect of storage
conditions, packaging material and seed moisture
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Christensen C.M. and Kaufman, H.H. 1965. Deterioration
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3:69-84

Doijode, S.D. 2005. Storage potentials of seed germplasm
in radish. Vegetable Sci., 32:196-197

Doijode, S.D. 2006. Seed quality in vegetable crops. In
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Fonseca, J.R, Freire A. De, Freire, M.S. and Zimmerman
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Frohlich, H. and Henkel, A. 1964. The probables of the
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Harrington, J.F. 1972. Seed storage and longevity. In Seed
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Minkov I., Ivanov, L., Rusev D. and Gadzhonova, P. 1974.
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Villareal, R.L., Balagedan, J.B. and Castro, A.D. 1972. The
effect of packing materials and storage conditions on
the vigour and viability of squash (Cucurbita
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Agriculturist 56:59-76

(MS Received 3 July 2009, Revised 2 November 2009)

J. Hortl. Sci.
Vol. 5 (1): 61-63, 2010

Long term seed storage studies in radish