Effect of moisture levels and storage periods on the seed quality of lentil (Lens culinaris L.)

To evaluate the effect of moisture levels (ML) and storage periods (SP) on the seed quality of lentil was investigated in the laboratory of Agronomy Department, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University (HSTU), Dinajpur, Bangladesh during March-April ۲۰۱۶. Three moisture levels i.e. ML۱ (۸.۸۸%), ML۲ (۱۲.۲۳%) and ML۳ (۱۴.۱۰%), and three storage periods viz, i) ۱۵ DAS, ii) ۳۰ DAS and iii) ۴۵ DAS were included in the study. Lentil seeds of ML۱ were found in good condition in respect of germination percentage (GP), better shoot and root length, vigor index and poor fungal incidence. The highest GP (۸۴.۶۹%) was found at ML۱ (the initial moisture level), with shortened SP (۱۵ DAS) while the lowest GP (۵۲.۸۴%) was found at ML۳ of ۱۴.۱۰% moisture level with the longest SP of ۴۵ DAS. The maximum shoot length (۱۷.۴۰cm) was recorded at ML۱ seed with ۱۵ DAS while the minimum (۱۲.۷۲cm) was found at ML۳ with ۴۵ DAS. The seeds in less moisture content with ۱۵ DAS SP produced the highest root length (۹.۲۴ cm) and vigor index (۲۲۸۴) and the lowest root length (۳.۷۴ cm) and vigor index (۸۱۳) was obtained in seeds with ML۳ at the SP of ۴۵ DAS, respectively. Fungal incidence was found less (۱۴.۰%) in lentil seeds with the initial ML (ML۱) and it increased ۱۸.۳۳% at ML۳ with ۱۵ DAS. It also increased with the increasing ML from ۸.۸۸ to ۱۴.۱۰% and storage periods from ۱۵ to ۴۵ DAS. The least ML with shortened SP was the best and the highest ML with the longest SP was the worst in respect of all the parameters. Therefore, optimum moisture level and ideal storage condition have the greatest benefit on the quality of lentil seeds.To evaluate the effect of moisture levels (ML) and storage periods (SP) on the seed quality of lentil was investigated in the laboratory of Agronomy Department, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University (HSTU), Dinajpur, Bangladesh during March-April ۲۰۱۶. Three moisture levels i.e. ML۱ (۸.۸۸%), ML۲ (۱۲.۲۳%) and ML۳ (۱۴.۱۰%), and three storage periods viz, i) ۱۵ DAS, ii) ۳۰ DAS and iii) ۴۵ DAS were included in the study. Lentil seeds of ML۱ were found in good condition in respect of germination percentage (GP), better shoot and root length, vigor index and poor fungal incidence. The highest GP (۸۴.۶۹%) was found at ML۱ (the initial moisture level), with shortened SP (۱۵ DAS) while the lowest GP (۵۲.۸۴%) was found at ML۳ of ۱۴.۱۰% moisture level with the longest SP of ۴۵ DAS. The maximum shoot length (۱۷.۴۰cm) was recorded at ML۱ seed with ۱۵ DAS while the minimum (۱۲.۷۲cm) was found at ML۳ with ۴۵ DAS. The seeds in less moisture content with ۱۵ DAS SP produced the highest root length (۹.۲۴ cm) and vigor index (۲۲۸۴) and the lowest root length (۳.۷۴ cm) and vigor index (۸۱۳) was obtained in seeds with ML۳ at the SP of ۴۵ DAS, respectively. Fungal incidence was found less (۱۴.۰%) in lentil seeds with the initial ML (ML۱) and it increased ۱۸.۳۳% at ML۳ with ۱۵ DAS. It also increased with the increasing ML from ۸.۸۸ to ۱۴.۱۰% and storage periods from ۱۵ to ۴۵ DAS. The least ML with shortened SP was the best and the highest ML with the longest SP was the worst in respect of all the parameters. Therefore, optimum moisture level and ideal storage condition have the greatest benefit on the quality of lentil seeds.