Identification of Seed Quality and Storability Traits in Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre

Twenty four Pongamia pinnata genotypes were screened out at the Department of Seed Science and Technology, Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad during 2014 and 2015 to elucidate the relationship between seed physical and physiological traits on seed storability and to select best genotype with long storage life. Genotype TOIL 2 recorded maximum values for two traits viz., seed thickness (8.99 mm) and 3D seed volume (3057 mm3), TOIL 12 for seed storability (85% germination) and test weight (151.37 g) and TOIL 5 for initial seed germination (100%). Coefficients of variations observed were high for seed germination, moderate for seed width, thickness and 100 seed weight but seed length recorded with low variation. Broad sense heritability estimates ranged from 55.4% (for seed length) to 99.9% (100 seed weight), genetic advance as per cent of mean ranged between 8.91 (for seed length) to 126.42 (for seed germination after storage). Seed storability exhibited positive significant correlation with initial seed germination and 100 seed weight at both phenotypic and genotypic levels whereas, seed thickness exhibited positive significant correlation only at genotypic level. Path analysis revealed that initial seed germination (g=0.695; p=0.667) is contributing directly to seed storability followed by 100 seed weight (g=0.440; p=0.266) and seed length (g=0.048; p=0.044). Whereas, seed thickness showed directly negative effect (g= -0.304; p= -0.143) on seed storability. Out of five clusters, cluster-I and cluster-II showed more genotypes, 15 and 5, respectively. 100 seed weight contributed more towards genetic diversity of Pongamia followed by seed germination after storage. The cluster V recorded maximum cluster mean for four seed physical parameters, while cluster III for seed germination and crosses among them may result in substantial segregates and further selection for overall improvement of species and its seed storability.