Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Study of Seed Dormancy in Colocynth (Citrullus colocynthis L.) with After-Ripening of Fruits, Seed Extraction Procedures and Period of Seed Storage

  • Research Article
  • Published:
National Academy Science Letters Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The effects of fruit after-ripening, seed extraction procedures and period of seed storage on dormancy, vigour index and seed viability of colocynth were studied under controlled conditions at Jaisalmer (India) during 2006–2007. The state of dormancy was assessed by determining the germination of seed and viability by assaying the activity of dehydrogenase. After-ripening of fruits for 3 months, did not affect 100-seed weight indicating that seeds achieved physiological maturity before harvest of fruits. Seed germination, vigour index and seed viability decreased with duration of fruit after-ripening and highest values of seed quality parameters were recorded from the seeds of fresh fruits. Seeds extracted by fermenting fruits for 48 h, recorded significantly higher seed germination and vigour index. Dehydrogenase activity was recorded significantly higher with 2 % HCl method of seed extraction. Storing of fresh seeds up to 12 month decreased seed germination from 73 to 16 %, vigour index from 2,696 to 488 and dehydrogenase activity from 0.820 to 0.628 OD.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Kumawat RN, Mahajan SS, Mertia RS, Prajapati CP (2006) Citrullus colocynthis—a marvel herb for botanicals and food products from Desert flora. In: International Conference & Expo on Botanical Products: Innovation, Challenges, Problems, Solutions and Trans-national Marketing Symposium Proceedings, Department of Chemistry, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur, March 3–5, 2006

  2. Kumawat RN, Mahajan SS, Mertia RS (2009) Effect of intra-row spacing and nitrogen on yield and yield attributes of colocynth (Citrullus colocynthis) under rainfed condition. Indian J Agric Sci 79(4):298–301

    Google Scholar 

  3. Akubor PI (2004) Influence of processing methods on the chemical and functional properties of melon (Colocynthis citrullus) seeds. J Food Sci Techol Mysore 41(2):181–185

    Google Scholar 

  4. Mathur BK, Prasad S, Mittal JP (1989) Effect of tumba-cake (Citrullus colocynthis) feeding on cattle production in arid regions. Indian J Anim Sci 59(11):1464–1465

    Google Scholar 

  5. Baskin JM, Baskin CC (2004) A classification system for seed dormancy. Seed Sci Res 14:1–16

    Google Scholar 

  6. Koller DA, Poljakoff-Mayber A, Berg A, Diskin T (1963) Germination regulating mechanisms in Citrullus colocynthis. Am J Bot 50:597–603

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Mayer AM, Poljakoff-Mayber A (1963) The germination of seeds. Pergamon Press, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  8. Nerson H (2004) Fruit-set order affects seed yield and germinability in melon (Cucumis melo L.). J Hortic Sci Biotechnol 79:985–990

    Google Scholar 

  9. Baskin JM, Baskin CC (1998) Seeds: ecology, biogeography and evolution of dormancy and germination. Academic Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  10. Saberi M, Shahriari A (2011) Comparison the effect of different treatments for breaking seed dormancy of Citrullus colocynthis. J Agric Sci 3(4):62–67

    Google Scholar 

  11. El-Hajzein B (1992) Etude de la germination de Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad. 2. Mise en evidence d’ une dormance embryonnaire relative. Rev Cytol Biol Veg Bot 15(3–4):175–183

    Google Scholar 

  12. Nerson H, Paris HS (1988) Effect of fruit age, fermentation and storage on germination of cucurbit seeds. Sci Hortic 25:15–26

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Marugesan P, Vanangamudi K (2005) Effect of seed and fruit position on seed quality in ash gourd (Benincasa hispida). Seed Res 33(2):156–159

    Google Scholar 

  14. Nerson H (1991) Fruit age and extraction procedures affect germinability of cucurbit seeds. Seed Sci Technol 19:185–195

    Google Scholar 

  15. Alvarenga EM, Silva RF, Aranjo EF, Condosa DAP (1984) Influence of age and post harvest storage of watermelon on seed quality. Hortic Bras 2(2):5–8

    Google Scholar 

  16. Shifress O, George WL (1965) Delayed germination and flowering in cucumber. Nature 206:424–425

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Dell AA, Beweley JD (1989) Protein synthesis in the axes of polyethylene glycol treated pea seed and during subsequent germination. J Exp Bot 40:1001–1007

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Dickie JB, Pritchard HW (2002) Systematic and evolutionary aspects of desiccation tolerance in seeds. In: Pritchard HW, Black M (eds) Desiccation and survival of plants. Drying without dying. CAB International, Wallingford

    Google Scholar 

  19. Achinewhu SC, Ryley J (1986) Effect of fermentation on the thiamin, riboflavin and niacin contents of melon seed (Citrullus vulgaris) and African oil bean seed (Pentaclethra macrophylla). Food Chem 20:243–252

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Abdul-Baki AA, Anderson JD (1973) Vigour determination in soybean seed by multiple criteria. Crop Sci 13:630–633

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Kun E, Abood L (1949) Colorimetric estimation on succinic dehydrogenase by TTC. Science 109:144–146

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Albert S, Delseny M, Devic M (1997) Banyuls, a novel negative regulator of flavonoid biosynthesis in the Arabidopsis seed coat. Plant J 11:289–299

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Botha FC, Grobbelaar N (1981) Germination inhibitors in the fruits of some indigenous species of the Cucurbitaceae. S Afr J Sci 77:79–81

    Google Scholar 

  24. El-Hajzein B, Neville P (1993) Etude de la germination de Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad. IV. Influence de pretraitments thermiques sur la dormance des semences. Rev Cytol Biol Veg Bot 16(4):105–120

    Google Scholar 

  25. Kantar F, Pilbeam CJ, Hebblethwaite PD (1996) Effect of tannin content of faba bean (Vicia faba) seed on seed vigour, germination and field emergence. Ann Appl Biol 128:85–93

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Corbineau F, Come D (1993) The concept of dormancy in cereal seeds. In: Proceedings of the 4th International Workshop on Seeds, Basic and Applied Aspects of Seed Biology, Angers, 25–27 July, 1993

  27. Debeaujon I, Karen M, Leon-Kloosterziel KM, Maarten K (2000) Influence of the testa on seed dormancy, germination, and longevity in Arabidopsis. Plant Phys 122:403–414

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Mini C, Krishnakumari K, Gopalakrishnan TR (2005) Effect of processing techniques and storage on water melon (Citrullus lanatus) seeds. Seed Res 33(1):88–91

    Google Scholar 

  29. Nkang A, Omokaro D, Egbe A, Amanke G (2003) Variations in fatty acid proportions during desiccation of Telfairia occidentalis seeds harvested at physiological and agronomic maturity. Afr J Biotechnol 2(2):33–39

    Google Scholar 

  30. Edelstein M, Corbineau F, Kigel J, Nerson H (1995) Seed coat structure and oxygen availability control low temperature germination of melon (Cucumis melo) seeds. Physiol Plantarum 93:451–456

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Iqbal N, Shazad MA, Basra L, Khalili-ur-Rehman (2002) Evaluation of vigour and oil quality in cottonseed during accelerated ageing. Int J Agric Biol 4(3):318–322

    Google Scholar 

  32. Das UN (1985) Studies on some growth regulators. Ph.D. Thesis, Kalyani University, Kolkata

  33. Guha J, Sen SP (1973) Antigibberellin of the cucurbitaceae. Nat New Biol 244:223–224

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Sung JM, Jeng TL (1994) Lipid peroxidation and peroxide-scavenging enzymes associated with accelerated aging of peanut seed. Physiol Plant 91:51–55

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Nautityal PC, Ravindra V, Misra JB (1997) Response of dormant and non-dormant seeds of groundnut (Arachis hypogea) genotypes to accelerated aging. Indian J Agric Sci 67:67–70

    Google Scholar 

  36. Harrington JF (1959) Effects of fruit maturity and harvesting methods on germination of muskmelon seeds. Proc Am Soc Hortic Sci 73:422–430

    Google Scholar 

  37. Cheng KH, Ke CM, Liu CK, Chang YC, Tang PS (1964) The loss in dehydrogenase activity in poplar seeds during storage and reactivation with pyridine nucleotides. J Interact Biol 12(4):325–331

    Google Scholar 

  38. Kahn MM, Hendry GAF, Atherton NM, Vertucci-Walters CW (1996) Free radical accumulation and lipid peroxidation in testas of rapidly aged soybean seeds: a light-promoted process. Seed Sci Res 6:101–107

    Google Scholar 

  39. Yeoung YR, Wilson DO, Murray GA (1995) Oxygen regulates imbibition of muskmelon seeds. Seed Sci Technol 23:843–850

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. S. S. Mahajan

    Present address: Division III, CAZRI, Jodhpur, 342 003, India

  2. R. N. Kumawat

    Present address: ZPD, Zone VI, CAZRI Campus, Jodhpur, 342 005, India

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi, India

    S. S. Mahajan & R. N. Kumawat

Authors
  1. S. S. Mahajan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. R. N. Kumawat
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to R. N. Kumawat.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Mahajan, S.S., Kumawat, R.N. Study of Seed Dormancy in Colocynth (Citrullus colocynthis L.) with After-Ripening of Fruits, Seed Extraction Procedures and Period of Seed Storage. Natl. Acad. Sci. Lett. 36, 373–378 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40009-013-0146-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40009-013-0146-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation