Greener Journal of Agricultural Sciences

Greener Journal of  Agricultural Sciences Vol. 3 (5), pp. 427-432, May 2013.

 ISSN: 2276-7770 

Research Paper

Manuscript Number: 121912328

 

Effect of storage temperature and duration on germination of moringa seeds (moringa oleifera)

 

Mubvuma M. T.^1*, Mapanda S.², and Mashonjowa E.³

 

^1*Faculty of Agricultural Science, Department of Soil and Plant Science. Great Zimbabwe University. P.O . Box 1235, Masvingo, Zimbabwe.

²Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN). 

sipiwemapanda @ yahoo. com

³Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Zimbabwe P.O. Box MP167,

Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe.

 

^1*Corresponding Author’s E-mail: mubvumamagm @ yahoo.co.uk,

Abstract:

Storing moringa seeds soon after harvesting at a specific storage temperature and for specific storage duration may affect the seed quality and germination percentages of the seed. Thus, an experiment was carried out to determine the storage temperature conditions and storage duration that may be used by small holder farmers when storing moringa seed to achieve optimum germination percentages. The results of the study indicated that management of storage temperature and storage duration of seed has potential to improve the seed quality and germination percentage of moringa seed. Across all the treatments, the results suggest that the quality of the seed improves with prolonged storage period up until three months, thereafter the quality of seed decrease with storage time unless stored under low temperatures (10 ⁰ C). Good germination results were achieved after storing the seeds at a storage temperature of 25 ⁰ C (ambient temperature) for a duration of 60 days.
 
Keywords: Storage temperature, storage duration, germination percentage, moringa seed.

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