Storage life of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) seeds under humid tropical conditions

The longevity of seeds of ten varieties of sesame (Sesamum indium L.) was estimated using probit modeling to evaluate storage potential of these seed lots under humid tropical conditions. The seeds were stored for 240 days (8 months) in two locations. Seed viability was monitored throughout the storage and seed survival was evaluated by probit analysis of the serial seed viability data. The seed viability data during storage showed that there were variable survival patterns under the two storage locations. Probit analysis showed negative slope (1/δ) values for all the seed lots suggesting certain degrees of deterioration over the 240 days (8 months) irrespective of genotype's storage location. The values of the slope revealed that speed of deterioration was reduced under UNAAB location and higher in BABCOCK location. The half-life (P₅₀) values derived by probit analysis of viability decline curves during storage of seeds of the ten sesame varieties in two locations suggests that seed longevity can be prolonged by storage in favourable location. The highest seed storage life of approximately 11 months was derived for seeds of 530-3 variety stored in UNAAB location, followed by E8 with seed storage life of 10 months under UNAAB location. Seeds of C-K-2 and 530-6-1 varieties stored in UNAAB location had high storage life of about 9 months. The shortest seed storage life of approximately 3 months was estimated for seeds of 73A-97 variety stored in BABCOCK location. The results showed that the storage of seed under favourable ambient locations offer good potential for short-term sesame seed quality maintenance.