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Studies on Eggplant Seed Dormancy
Thesis Abstract:
Eight varieties of eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) were used to investigate the occurrence and nature of seed dormancy and to study means of breaking it.
Of the eight varieties, three exhibited varying degrees of seed dormancy. Seeds of varieties Millionaire, Long Purple and Dingras Multiple Purple were assessed as strongly, moderately and weakly dormant, respectively, at the time of harvest. Delaying seed extraction from the time of fruit harvest did not influence the percentage of dormant seeds. Percent dormancy remained unchanged for 60 days under airconditioned storage.
A series of experiments indicated that dormancy is not due to factors in the fruit juice or seed coat but to substances in the seed itself, which inhibit germination. These inhibitors are insoluble in petroleum ether, 1 N NaCl, and distilled water but are apparently soluble in 95% ethyl alchohol and 1 IN H2SO4.
Among several physical and chemical methods tested to break dormancy, treatments with KNO3 and GA3 were found the most effective.