Effect of dryseed treatments on seed longevity of five sesame Sesame indium L varieties under humid topical conditions

Efficacy of organic dry-seed treatments on longevity of five sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) varieties stored for 240 days under ambient conditions (30oC, RH 75 %) was investigated. Seed lot of each variety was treated with five crude plant powders of scent leaf (Ocimum gratissimum L.), red chilli pepper fruit (Capsicum frutescens L.), garlic fruit (Allium sativum L.), ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe and black pepper fruit (Piper guineensie Schumach. & Thonn.) and a synthetic fungicide (apron plus) as a standard check and untreated control. Stored Seeds were drawn at 60- day intervals for longevity (viability) test. Seeds dressed with O. gratissimum leaf and C. frutescents fruit powders at 10g/100g seed retained significant highest longevity. The five organic seed treatments increased seed longevity by 55 to 57 % and 3 to 8 % over apron plus and control, respectively. Seeds dressed with these organic materials could still be stored for between 180 (6 months) and 240 days (8 months) before sowing under ambient conditions. PROBIT modeling result showed that organic treated seeds had significant longest storage life relative to apron plus or untreated control. Highest seed storage life of 44 to 46 months was derived for EVA and CIANO 27 seeds dressed with O. gratissimum leaf and C. frutescens treatments. Use of these two crude plant powders will benefit small scale sesame producers who have little resources for seed storage and therefore recommended as a useful seed storage management strategy.