Studies of Seed Storability of Withania Somnifera (Ashwagandha)

This book is mainly focused on "Effect of varying temperature and packaging material on storability of seed of Withania sominifera (Ashwagandha)". The research was carried out with Ashwagandha having four germplasms viz., G1 (Redberry), G2 (WS100), G3 (WS20) and G4 (WS134), in Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, JNKVV, Jabalpur (M.P.) during 2009-10. The observation revealed that the test weight of the germplasms investigated was 2.03 g. The initial observations revealed minimum moisture content (%) in germplasm G1 (Redbeery) and G4 (WS134), while G3 and G2 had optimum moisture content with maximum germination at first count, final count radicle length at final count, total seedling length at final count, seedling dry weight, vigour index (by measure) and vigour index (by mass). Minimum moisture content (%) revealed that germplasms G3 (WS20) and G2 (WS100) packed in P4 (aluminum foil paper packet) and P3 (polylined cloth bag) had maximum values to first count, final count, speed of emergence seedling growth rate, radicle and plumule length at final count, total seedling length at final count, seedling dry weight, vigour index (by mass) upto six months of storage.