Seed storage is being affected by factors viz. seed moisture content, temperature and relative humidity. The effects of four drying methods using silica gel, saturated salt solution of lithium chloride, concentrated sulphuric acid and dryer drying on different physiological and biochemical characteristics of genotypes CSH 16 and CSV 18 of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) were investigated. Faster drying rate was observed in acid and silica gel while dryer and saturated salt solution of lithium chloride exhibited slow drying rate. Acid drying was efficient in drying, but detrimental to the seed quality. Results obtained by silica gel and lithium chloride salt solution drying were comparable with those obtained by seed dryer. Among the various parameters investigated, germination, vigour, total protein content, dehydrogenase, amylase, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase activity were found to show a decreasing trend, whereas electrical conductivity (EC) increased during storage irrespective of drying methods. Seed quality was preserved in conventional drying method (drying chamber at 15°C and 15% R H), which was comparable to the quality of seeds dried using lithium chloride; though drying rate was slow. Silica gel resulted in faster rate of drying to maintain moisture content and seed quality.

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the growth performance of nine Nymphaea accessions for landscape use under the climatic conditions of Coimbatore. The experimental design was laid out in Completely Randomized Block Design (CRD) with three replications at Botanical Garden, Department of Floriculture and Landscape Architecture, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore. All the accessions showed significant variations for vegetative and reproductive parameters such as number of leaves, leaf width, petiole length and number of flowers. The experimental results showed that the growth performance of different tropical Nymphaea accessions with various colors such as N. colorata, N. 'Red Flare', N. 'Peach Blow' and N. capensis were comparatively better and can be exploited for landscape use under Coimbatore conditions. During the months of summer, the growth performance of hardy water lilies showed somber growth when compared to that of tropical water lilies.