LIQUID PRESERVATIVES TO IMPROVE LONGEVITY OF TOMATO (LYCOPERSICON-ESCULENTUM L) SEEDS

Tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum L. cultivar 'Arka Saurabh') seeds stor ed hermetically at 10% and 8.6% moisture content (MC; fresh weight bas is) lost viability completely in about 730 days and 1100 days, respect ively. Viability in the seeds at 10% and 8.6% MC immersed in hexylene glycol by 1460 days and 1820 days was 43% and 31%, and 80% and 66%, re spectively with reduction in seedling growth (vigour). The viability i n the seeds at 10% and 8.6% MC immersed in 25% CaCl2 in glycerol (CALG LY) by 1460 days and 1820 days was 81% and 82%, respectively with redu ction of vigour. The viability of the seeds at 2% MC hermetically stor ed by 1460 and 1820 days was 79% and 80%, respectively, while the viab ility in the seeds with similar MC immersed in hexylene glycol by 1460 days and 1820 days was 76% and 61%, respectively. Longevity improveme nt by immersing in CALGLY was parallel with the seeds at 2% moisture h ermetically stored. The results suggest preservation of tomato seeds b y immersing in CALGLY or hexylene glycol is a simple and cost-effectiv e method for improving short- or medium-term longevity at ambient temp erature.