Physiological maturity of seeds in kodo millet (Paspalum scrobiculatum L.) cultivars across seasons

• Published in: Indian journal of plant physiology 2023-06, Vol.28 (2), p.209-220
• Main Authors: Kannababu, N., Deepika, C., Venkateswarlu, R., Hariprasanna, K., Das, I. K.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biomedical and Life Sciences; Cell Biology; Crop yield; Cultivars; Electrical conductivity; Electrical resistivity; Food sources; Germination; Harvesting; Life Sciences; Maturity; Millet; Moisture effects; Original Article; Paspalum scrobiculatum; Physiology; Plant Biochemistry; Plant Ecology; Plant Genetics and Genomics; Plant Physiology; Plant Sciences; Polynomials; Rainy season; Regression analysis; Rural communities; Seasons; Seedlings; Seeds; Subsistence agriculture; Vigor; Visual observation; α-Amylase
• ISSN: 2662-253X; 0019-5502; 2662-2548; 0974-0252
• DOI: 10.1007/s40502-023-00725-9

Kodo millet or Indian crown grass ( Paspalum scrobiculatum L. ) is one of the hardiest crop among the small millets and is a source of healthy food mostly for subsistence farming communities. The information on physiological maturity (PM) and harvestable maturity (HM) for quality seed production in kodo millet is scanty. In order to determine the physiological and harvestable maturity of seeds in two cultivars (JK36 and TNAU86) of kodo millet an experiment was conducted during rainy season (RS) and post-rainy season (PRS) of 2018–19. The first stage of harvest was marked at 22 days after anthesis (DAA) (RS) and 16 DAA (PRS) in JK36 and at 16 DAA in RS and 10 DAA during PRS in TNAU8 based on daily visual observation on seed formation and development. The effect of eight harvest stages at four days interval on seed hardness, moisture, test-weight, yield, germination, field emergence, electrical conductivity, seedling vigor and α-amylase activity were assessed. Based on significant differences among harvest stages for seed yield, vigor and storability traits, appropriate stage of PM was identified at 33 DAA in JK36 and 28 DAA in TNAU86; and HM at 37 DAA in JK36 and 32 DAA in TNAU86 during RS. However, during PRS the stages at 32 DAA in JK36 and 26 DAA in TNAU86 were ideal for seed PM as well as HM. The second-order polynomial regression analysis also predicted maximum seed yield, germination, vigor and storability more or less close to these stages. At PM, when seed coat was removed the seed exhibited dark-layer at hilar-end. At this stage, the seeds were hard, shiny, grayish-brown with pale-yellow patches and with projected streaks; and eighty percent of panicles and straw appeared in dark brown color.