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.