Abstract
In the present study, a semi-destructive method is standardized to estimate the seed moisture content in Saraca asoca, one of the rare plant species of the Western Ghats. In the study, sample of seeds with about ¼th portion of cotyledon on the chalazal side cut and reaming seed portion (¾th) were independently used for moisture content. There was a strong and positive association between seed moisture content of a portion of cotyledon and that of the whole seed (R2=92; Y=0.9979x-0.3673, where x is the moisture content of the small portion of the seed). In another experiment, entire seeds and seeds with a cut portion (¾th) were subjected to germination test. Result showed that there was no significant difference among these two treatments for germination. Hence, this semi-destructive method of estimation of seed moisture content could be effectively adopted for species with large sized seeds for periodic assessment of seed moisture content, especially in storage experiments.
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