CORRELATION OF MODIFIED WATER SORPTION PROPERTIES WITH THE DECLINE OFSTORAGE STABILITY OF OSMOTICALLY-PRIMED SEEDS OF VIGNA-RADIATA (L.) WILCZEK

Osmotic priming in a polyethylene glycol solution (300 g/kg water) for 48 h resulted in a partial loss of desiccation tolerance for seeds of Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek (mung bean). The percentage of germination began to decrease after primed seeds were dried down to water content s less than 0.06 g/g DW. As compared with control seeds, primed mung b ean seeds also had poorer storage stability. The decline of storage st ability after osmotic priming was correlated with the modifications of seed water sorption properties. Priming significantly increased the a mount of water associated with the weak water-binding sites, and reduc ed the amount of water associated with the strong binding sites and mu ltimolecular binding sites in seed tissues. The enhancement of molecul ar mobility in seeds, as a result of such water redistribution, probab ly accelerates seed deterioration and decreases storage stability.