SEEDLING PARAMETERS OF SOYBEAN CULTIVARS AS INFLUENCED WITH SEED STORAGE PERIODS, CONDITIONS AND MATERIALS

This investigation was elucidated seedling characters effects of soybean cultivars i.e. Crawford, Giza 111, Giza 21, Giza 22 and Giza 35 due to ageing (storage) in different packaging material i.e. seeds or pods in plastic or cloth bags for different periods i.e. 3, 6, 9 and 12 months under ambient and refrigerator conditions. Seedling parameters i.e. root and shoot length, seedling fresh and dry weight root/shoot ratio and seedling vigor index were decreased with the period of ageing. Soybean cultivars are stored in plastic bags were affected due to storage but the effects were more pronounced in the plastic bags as compared to cloth bags. It could be stated that Giza 111 exceeded the other cultivars in root length, shoot length and seedling vigor index. Giza 22 and Giza 21 cultivars exceeded the other cultivars in root/ shoot ratio. Giza 35 exceeded other cultivars in seedling dry and fresh weight. Storage under refrigerator conditions at 10oC ± 1 exceeded storage under ambient conditions in root length, shoot length, root/shoot ratio and seedling fresh and dry weight and seedling vigor index. Results clearly showed that root and shoot length, root/shoot ratio, seedling fresh and dry weight and seedling vigor index significantly affected by the varies interactions.