Storability assessment of polymer coated and biologically treated maize seeds in different packaging systems

This study evaluated the impact of storage methodologies on seed quality and longevity of maize inbred and hybrid lines under ambient conditions at Department of Seed Science and Technology, Seed Research and Technology Centre, PJTAU, Hyderabad. Four maize genotypes (BML 7, PFSR 3, KNMH 4010131, KNMH 4010141) were treated with chemical protectants (Thiamethoxam, Metalaxyl), biocontrol agents (Trichoderma viride, Bacillus megaterium), and biofriendly polymers (adjuvant), and stored in jute and polypropylene bags. Seed quality parameters such asgermination (%), seedling length (cm), seedling dry weight (mg), seedling vigour index I and II, field emergence (%), insect infestation (%), and seed infection (%) were evaluated bi monthly. Seed quality gradually declined during storagehowever, seeds treated with the combination of chemical protectants, biocontrol agents, biofriendly polymer, and stored in polypropylene woven bags showed highest retention of seed quality and storability in both inbreds and hybrids. Across eight months of storage, the mean germination percentage declined from 87% to 69%. Hybrid KNMH 4010131 exhibited superior storability, maintaining 81% germination, compared with 56% in KNMH 4010141. In inbreds, treatment T₉ - (PFSR 3 + chemical + biological + polymer + colourant in polypropylene bags) retained 76% germination, while untreated seeds dropped to 65%. The combined treatment resulted in a 13.3% improvement, compared to 4.41% with chemical treatment alone. The best-performing hybrid treatment (T₃) recorded 88% germination, followed by 84% in T₄.Seedling length decreased from 30.38 cm to 23.15 cm, but treated hybrids maintained higher values (23.95 cm in KNMH 4010131 and 22.22 cm in KNMH 4010141). Seedling dry weight declined from 865 mg to 418 mg, with treated seeds in polypropylene bags showing the highest retention (526 mg in KNMH 4010131). Field emergence declined from 79% to 51%, but integrated treatment improved emergence by 16.4% in inbreds and by 17.1 - 48.3% in hybrids.Insect infestation increased to 2.39% in untreated seeds, while treated seeds stored in polypropylene bags achieved 100% reduction in both insect infestation and seed infection in inbreds, and substantial reduction in hybrids (29.5% in KNMH 4010141; 19.4% in KNMH 4010131). Overall, integrating seed treatments with polypropylene packaging proved to be the most effective strategy for maintaining seed quality and storability during ambient storage.