Influence of Seed Treatment and Packaging Material on Storability and Quality of Sword Bean (Canavalia gladiata L.) cv. KAU Cg101

Abstract

The present investigation was carried out at the Department of Seed Science and Technology, TNAU, Coimbatore (2024–2025), to evaluate the effect of seed treatment with carbendazim (2 g kg⁻¹) and storage containers such as cloth bag (C1) and 700-gauge polyethylene bag (C2) on the storability and physiological quality of sword bean (Canavalia gladiata L.) cv. KAU Cg101 under ambient conditions. Seeds stored in polyethylene bag with carbendazim (C2T2) retained higher germination percentage (60%), root length (16.3 cm), shoot length (17.8 cm), dry matter production (6.3 g/10 seedlings), vigour index (2008) and protein content (12.7%), while recording the lowest electrical conductivity (1.534 dS m⁻¹) and moisture content (9.0%) after six months of storage. In contrast, seeds stored in cloth bags without treatment (C1T1) recorded poor quality, including 53% germination, 13.7 cm root length, 15.4 cm shoot length and electrical conductivity of 2.158 dS m⁻¹ at P6. These results clearly indicate that carbendazim treatment combined with polyethylene bag storage effectively delays seed deterioration and enhances shelf-life by maintaining physiological and biochemical seed quality attributes.