IJERD – International Journal of Environmental and Rural Development (2021) 12-1

Research article
erd

The Influence of Packaging Materials and Storage Duration on
Seed Quality of Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.)
HNIN THIDA NYO*
Department of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation, Myanmar
Email: hninnyo@gmail.com

NYEIN NYEIN HTWE
Department of Agricultural Extension, Yezin Agricultural University, Myanmar

KYAW KYAW WIN
Pro-rector, Yezin Agricultural University, Myanmar
Received 1 January 2021

Accepted 17 May 2021(*Corresponding Author)

Abstract The process of seed deterioration can lead to some physiological changes, such as aprogressive decrease in germinability, an increase mean time for germination, an increase in thenumber of abnormal seedlings and a subsequent lower tolerance to adverse storage conditions.
This study was conducted to determine the seed quality losses associated with the use ofdifferent types of packaging materials used for storage under farm condition. The study wasconducted in collaboration with sesame farmers in Pwintphyu Township, from August 2016 toMarch 2017 (pre-monsoon seed storage) and in Pakokku Township, from January 2017 toAugust 2017 (post-monsoon seed storage). The sesame seeds were stored in the farmers’ houses
using two types of packaging materials; woven polypropylene bags and pioneer super bags. The
data were recorded before storage and at two-month intervals during the eight month storage
period. The results show that the germination percentage and germination index means of thepre-monsoon seeds stored in woven polypropylene bag are significantly higher than for thosestored in super bags. However, the packaging material used has no significant influence on thegermination percentage and germination index of post-monsoon sesame seeds. In regard tostorage duration, there was significant variation in the germination percentage and germinationindexes depending on storage method for both pre-monsoon and post-monsoon seeds. Although
the seedling vigour measures of index I and II for pre-monsoon seeds stored in woven
polypropylene bag are significantly higher than for those of seeds stored in super bags, there isno difference in seedling vigour indexes I and II for post-monsoon seeds with the use ofdifferent packaging methods. However, the seedling vigour indexes I and II of both pre- andpost-monsoon seeds varied significantly with duration of storage. Germination percentage andgermination indexes are different for the two packaging materials examined, for pre-monsoon
sesame storage. The germination percentage and germination indexes of stored seeds in superbags are significantly lower than that in woven polypropylene bags, whereas, this effect was notobserved in post-monsoon sesame. Black sesame cultivated in both pre-monsoon and postmonsoon seasons has a different dormancy period, and any effect of packaging materials on thisdormancy release time is not evident, for both seasons. Therefore, hermetic (super bag) storage
can be used in post-monsoon sesame without adverse effects on germination. However, without
further research, hermetic storage appears to not be suitable for pre-monsoon sesame, due to its
negative effect on germination.
Keywords sesame, germination percentage, germination index, seedling vigour indexⒸ ISERD

48

IJERD – International Journal of Environmental and Rural Development (2021) 12-1

INTRODUCTION
A seed’s storage environment greatly influences the period of seed survival. The type of packaging
used during the storage of seeds helps in lessening the speed of deterioration by maintaining the initialmoisture content of the seeds stored, and by diminishing the seeds’ respiration rate (Brooker et al.,1992). Longevity of seed viability in storage is influenced by the initial quality of the seed stored aswell as the storage conditions. However, irrespective of initial seed quality, unfavourable storage
conditions, particularly air temperature and air relative humidity, contribute to acceleration of seed
deterioration in storage (Walters et al., 2010; Hansen, 2011). Maintaining seed viability and vigour
during storage also depends on the type of packaging employed. Seeds in packaging which enables theexchange of water vapor with the environment can absorb water under high relative humidity, easily
decaying seeds (Filho, 1998).
OBJECTIVESThe study was conducted to determine losses in seed quality associated with the use of different typesof packaging materials used during storage and under farm conditions.

METHODOLOGY
Experimental Sites and Design
The study was conducted in collaboration with the sesame farmers in Pwintphyu Township, during theperiod August 2016 to March 2017 and in Pakokku Township from January 2017 to August 2017, withboth of these townships situated in Magway Region, Myanmar. The black sesame seeds (Samou Nei)
were stored in the farmers’ houses using two types of packaging materials, woven polypropylene bags
and pioneer super bags. The woven polypropylene bag is permeable bag and pioneer super bag is nonpermeable poly-ethylene bag with thickness of 0.078 mm. The pioneer super bags (which consists of atwo layer bag, with a bag inside a polypropylene outer), and as much air as possible was removed fromsuper bag before it was taped closed. The bags were stored together with other bags using different
storage methods. This storage treatment was undertaken in the houses of six farmers in each township.
The data were recorded before storage and at two-month intervals during the eight month storage
period. Germination tests (germination percentage, germination rate), vigour tests (seedling vigour
index I, seedling vigour index II) were conducted to determine seed quality.
Germination Percentage
The germination test was performed using the top paper method. Four replications of one hundred
seeds, randomly distributed on wet filter paper in petri dishes 9 cm in diameter, were examined. Eachdish was placed into an incubator set to a constant temperature of 25°C throughout the testing period.
The germinated seeds (2 mm radicle elongation) were counted daily, up to the tenth day, to calculate
the germination rate (ISTA, 2004).
Germination Index
The germination index was computed using the following formula:
G.I =N1D1+N2D2+N3+D3+NnDnⒸ ISERD49IJERD – International Journal of Environmental and Rural Development (2021) 12-1

where,N1, N2, …, Nn: Number of seedlings on day 1st, 2nd and nth day after sowing
D1, D2, …, Dn: Number of days after sowing
Seedling Vigour Index
This was calculated by measuring the germination percentage and seedling length of the same seedsample. The seedlings were grown by the rolled paper towel method. Fifty seeds each, in four
replications, were germinated in moist paper towel, in such a way that the micropyles were oriented
towards the bottom to avoid root twisting. The rolled paper towel mediums were kept in an incubator,
with temperature maintained at 25 °C. After 10 days, the paper towel substrates were removed and fivenormal seedlings were randomly selected. Their lengths were measured and a mean seedling lengthcalculated. To determine dry weight, the seedlings were removed from the substrate and dried in anoven at 100°C temperature for 24 hours, then cooled and weighed. The seed vigour indexes werecalculated by multiplying the germination percentage by seedling dry weight (g) (Index I) or by
seedling length (mm) (Index II). The seed lot showing the higher seed vigour index was considered tobe more vigorous (Adbdul-Baki and Anderson, 1973).
Vigour index -I: Germination (%) × total dry weight of seedling (g)Vigour index -II: Germination (%) × seedling length (mm)Statistical Analysis
All data were analyzed with analysis of variance (ANOVA) by using Statistix (version 8.0) andcomparison of treatment means was done using the LSD test at 5 % level of significance.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Effect of Different Packaging Materials and Storage Durations on the Quality of Pre-monsoon
SesameGermination percentage:
The means of germination percentage of seeds stored in woven polypropylene bags was significantly
higher than that of those stored in super bags. These results indicate that woven polypropylene bags are
more suitable to store pre-monsoon sesame seeds to maintain good quality seeds. In hermeticallystorage, high moisture contents in stored grain can loss in germination and viability. The dryness ofstored grain in pre-monsoon may not be enough for safety storage in hermetical bags. The mean valueof germination percentage of pre-monsoon sesame varied with storage duration. The minimum
germination percentage for sesame seeds was found at the initial storage time and this percentage
increased significantly after two months storage and again after four months storage. The increase ingermination percentages were positively correlated with the duration of storage up to a period of six
months then decreased slightly. It can be said that the physiological quality of sesame stored for sixmonth did not decrease during storage. Therefore, the results show that the best storage duration forpre-monsoon sesame seeds, in relation to germination rates is six-month (Table 1).
These results compare with those reported by Prashant et al. (2016), whose study of the variabilityof germination percentage with the duration of seed storage for Seasamum indicum, found thatmaximum germination percentages occur after short term storage (68-75%), followed by mid-term, andminimum germination percentages occurred in seeds stored for long terms. The mean germination
percentage of pre-monsoon sesame seeds was significantly different, and was affected by packagingⒸ ISERD

50

IJERD – International Journal of Environmental and Rural Development (2021) 12-1

materials and storage duration (Table 1). However, it can be seen that the variations in the germination
percentage means during the storage periods depend primarily on the packaging material used forstorage. The best germination of pre-monsoon sesame could be achieved from seed stored in woven
polypropylene bags for six months (Fig. 1). This agrees with the study carried out by Lima et al. (2014)
that concluded that the physiological quality of sesame stored for six months does not decrease duringstorage.
Table 1 Mean effects of packaging materials and storage durations
on the quality of pre-monsoon sesame
Treatment

Germination(%)

Germinationindex

Seedlingvigour index I

Seedling vigour
index II

Packaging materials (P)Super bag
31.583 b
6.821 b0.055 b226.520 b
Woven polypropylene bag
51.708 a
12.197 a
0.086 a390.570 a
LSD0.05
6.207
1.610
0.012
50.666Storage duration (D)Initial storage
1.583 d0.720 e0.003 d14.010 d
2 months
22.979 c
6.264 d0.043 c181.910 c
4 months
38.208 b
9.885 c0.064 b228.050 c
6 months
74.604 a
16.625 a0.119 a637.790 a
8 months
70.854 a
14.052 b
0.124 a480.970 b
LSD0.05
9.814
2.546
0.019
80.109Pr > FP<0.0001<0.0001<0.0001<0.0001D<0.0001<0.0001<0.0001<0.0001
PxD
0.00100.00010.00990.0002CV (%)
28.66
32.57
32.08
31.58
Note: In each column, means with the same letter are not significantly different at 5 % level.

Fig. 1 Combination effect of packaging materials and storage durations
on germination percentage of pre-monsoon sesame
Germination index:
The maximum germination index is seen from seed stored in woven polypropylene bags followed byseeds stored in super bags. The mean germination indexes varied significantly with the duration ofstorage. It is the effect of dormancy of stored seed, the germination index of stored seeds increasedⒸ ISERD51

IJERD – International Journal of Environmental and Rural Development (2021) 12-1

with storage duration due to dormancy release and reached the maximum after six months storage
when the dormancy fully release. Germination indexes significantly differed for the two packaging
materials, except at the two-month storage interval, and this difference was greatest at six months,
when seeds stored in woven polypropylene bag storage displayed the greatest germination index.
Seedling vigour index I and II:
The seedling vigour indexes I and II, for seeds stored in woven polypropylene bag were significantly
higher than for those seeds stored in super bags. Seedling vigour depends on the germination
percentage, seedling length and seedling dry weight. And maintaining the viability and seed vigor
during storage also depends on the type of packaging employed (Filho, 1998). The maximum reading
for seedling vigour index I is seen after eight months of storage, although this is not significantly
different to the index I measurement at the six-month storage interval. The pre-monsoon sesame seeds
stored for longer than four months show a higher seedling vigour index I when stored in the woven
polypropylene bag. In relation to seedling vigour index II, the lowest measurements occur in the initialstorage but these germination index rates increase with duration of storage. The results indicate that themost vigorous seedlings are those stored in woven polypropylene bags for six months.
Effect of Different Packaging Materials and Storage Durations on the Quality of Post-monsoon
SesameGermination percentage:
The mean values of germination percentages of post-monsoon sesame are statistically similar for thetwo packaging materials, super bags and woven polypropylene bags. The packaging materials do notshow an influence on the germination percentages of post-monsoon sesame seeds. However, thedifferences in the mean germination percentages of post-monsoon sesame are significant when storage
duration is considered (Table 2). The interaction effects between packaging materials and storage
duration exhibit non-significant effects on mean germination percentages for post-monsoon sesame(Fig. 2). It can be seen that mean germination percentages, which vary with storage duration, are notdependent on the packaging material used for storage. It can also be seen that water proof, air tightcontainers are a suitable packaging type to maintain germination of post-monsoon sesame above 90%
at the eight-month interval of storage.
Germination index:
Although the germination index for seeds is similar for the two packaging materials, these indexes
varied significantly with storage duration. However, the interaction effects between packaging
materials and storage durations were not significant in germination index measurements for postmonsoon sesame (Table 2). It can be said that the changes of germination index during storage are notinfluenced by the packaging material used for storage.
Seedlings vigour index I and II:
Seedling vigour indexes I and II for seeds stored in different packaging is not different, however, theseindex measurements varied significantly with storage duration. Seedling vigour indexes I and II at theinitial storage interval, exhibit minimum values and significantly differ to seeds stored for longer
durations. The combination effect of packaging materials and storage duration on seedling vigour
indexes is not significant (Table 2). This shows that the variations in seedling vigour indexes observed
over time are not governed by the packaging materials. Although germination percentage and thegermination index are numerically higher for seeds stored in super bags, seedling vigour indexes I andII are higher for seed in woven polypropylene bags.

Ⓒ ISERD

52

IJERD – International Journal of Environmental and Rural Development (2021) 12-1

Table 2 Mean effect of packaging materials and storage durations
on the quality of post-monsoon sesame
Treatment

Germination(%)

Germinationindex

Seedling vigour
index I

Seedling vigour
index II

Packaging materials (P)Super bag
74.317 a
18.637 a
0.142 aWoven polypropylene bag
74.375 a
19.148 a
0.143 a
LSD0.05
5.226
1.626
0.016
Storage duration (D)Initial storage
26.750 c
8.800 c0.045 c2 month
65.333 b17.645 b
0.119 b4 month
94.625 a
22.585 a0.182 a6 month
94.521 a
23.412 a0.173 a8 month90.500 a
22.017 a
0.195 a
LSD0.05
8.263
2.572
0.025
Pr > FP
0.98220.52980.8417
D<0.0001<0.0001<0.0001
P×D
0.77910.18490.6766
CV (%)
13.52
16.55
21.08
Note: In each column, means with the same letter are not significantly different at 5 % level.

618.290 a
620.640 a
45.080174.050 d
566.170 c
669.290 b
951.510 a734.290 b
71.2780.9167<0.0001
0.8691
13.99

Fig. 2 Combination effect of packaging materialsnstorage durations
on germination percentage of post-monsoon sesame
CONCLUSION
Black sesame seed cultivated in both pre-monsoon and post-monsoon seasons has different dormancy
periods. The maximum germination rates occur after 6 months storage for pre-monsoon sesame but at
4 months storage for post-monsoon sesame. There was no observed differences in the effects of thematerials used for storage on the dormancy release time for sesame seeds, for either pre- or postmonsoon seasons. Hermetic storage can be used for post-monsoon sesame without adverse effects ongermination. However, hermetic storage is not suitable for pre-monsoon sesame, as it has a negative
effect on germination. More research should be conducted to investigate the reasons for this.
Ⓒ ISERD

53

IJERD – International Journal of Environmental and Rural Development (2021) 12-1

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This study was supported financially and technically by the Japan International Cooperation Agency,
Technical Cooperation Program (JICA-TCP).
REFERENCES
Abdul-Baki, A.A. and Anderson, J.D. 1973. Vigour determination in soybean seed by multiple criteria. Crop Sci.,
13, 630-633.
Brooker, D.B., Arkema, F.W.B. and Hall, C.W. 1992. Drying and storage of grains and oilseeds. New York, Van
Nostrand Reinhold.
Filho, J.M. 1998. New approaches to seed vigour testing. Scientia Agricola, 55, 27-33.
Hansen, R. 2011. Sesame profile, Retrieved from http://www.agmrc.org commoditie_ products/grains_oilseeds/sesame_profile.cfm
International Seed Testing Association (ISTA). 2004. International rules for seed testing annexes. International
Seed Testing Association (ISTA), Zurich, Switzerland.
Lima, D.C., Dutra, A.S. and Camilo, J.M. 2014. Physiological quality of sesame seeds during storage. Rev. Ciênc.
Agron., 45, 138-145.
Prashant, K.M., Seema, P. and Ravi, P.M. 2016. Assessment of storage dependent physiological parameters ofsesamum indicum seeds. Int. J. Curr. Microbiol. App. Sci. 5 (1), 641-653.
Walters, C.T., Ballesteros, D. and Vertucci, V. 2010. Structural mechanics of seed deterioration. Standing the testof time. Plant Sci, 179, 565-573.

Ⓒ ISERD

54