Evaluation of Hard Seed in Indonesia Local Mungbean (Vigna radiata L.)

Abstract

The rate of hard seed in mungbean is a seed production and consumption and varies among varieties. The hard seed is characterized by the absence of pores in the epidermis and an impermeable seed coat created by the suberin layers, which is considered a significant issue for both to be correlated with the environment, seed size, and genetics. A germination test (ISTA rules) was used to determine the rate of the hard seed of 15 local mungbean genotypes collected by the Indonesian Agricultural Gene Bank. The seeds have been stored for three years at 18°C and 30-40% RH. The germination test using rolled paper consisted of 50 seeds with four replications. Hard seeds remained hard at the end of the germination test period because they had not absorbed water due to an impermeable seed coat. The hard seeds were then subjected to dormancy-breaking treatments, i.e., hot water rinsing, sandpaper scarification, soaking in H2SO4 98% and 50% for 30 minutes, and soaking in HCL 1N for 30 minutes. Local Sampang accession was found to have the highest number of hard seeds (15.5%). Lokal Sampang accession has a smaller seed, with an average seed length of 4.04±0.053mm and a seed width of 3.48±0,012 mm. Scarification with sandpaper was the most successful treatment to break the hard seeds’ dormancy, resulting in 100% germination.