**3.1 Seed storage environment and storage period effects on the germination ability of** *C. sanguinolenta* **seeds**

The long-term conservation and domestication of *C. sanguinolenta* plant genetic resources require essential steps such as storage of seeds as *ex situ* germplasm. Storage of seeds under suitable environmental conditions is essential for the preservation of genetic integrity, maintaining seed viability, normal metabolism of seed and free from various environmental stresses [43, 44]. Some factors that may affect seed quality include temperature, insects and biotic stresses [45]. However, the most widely important factor which affects seed quality is the storage period [46]. According to [47], the viability of seeds is hugely influenced by the period of seed storage since the reduction in seed viability and increase storage period are directly proportional. Prolonged storage period can decrease seed germinability as result of the disintegration of the seed's metabolic system [48].

The present study was undertaken to test the effect of storage periods under different storage conditions on seed germination in *C. sanguinolenta*. To the best of our knowledge there is the first scientific report on the effect of storage periods and conditions on seed germination in *C. sanguinolenta*.

Freshly harvested *C. sanguinolenta* seeds from mature dried pods were used for the study. A 10 × 3 factorial experiments arranged in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with three (3) replications were used. Treatments consisted of two factors; Storage Conditions [Fridge (2–4°C), Room temperature (26° to 29°C), Freezer (−12° to −15°C)] and storage periods [0-week (freshly harvested seed), 2-week, 4-week, 6-week, 8-week, 10-week and 12-week] replicated three times. Germination measurements (germinability, synchronization, uniformity, mean germination rate, mean germination time, and co-efficient of variation) were calculated [49, 50].

The study identified storing freshly harvested *C. sanguinolenta* seeds (from mature dried pods) for 2 to 6 weeks as a suitable storage period for improving the germinability of seeds (**Table 1**). It has been observed severally that matured seeds of this plant when sown immediately after harvest yielded very low germination percentages. This observation corroborates the current study.

### *DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.108249 Conservation and Sustainable Use of C*ryptolepis sanguinolenta


*G = germinability, MT = mean germination time, CV1 = coefficient of variation of the germination time, MR = mean germination rate, WBS = Weeks Before Sowing.*

#### **Table 1.**

*Mean germination measurements of* C. sanguinolenta *seeds under different storage periods.*


*G = germinability, MT = mean germination time, CV1 = coefficient of variation of the germination time, MR = mean germination rate.*

#### **Table 2.**

*Mean germination measurements of* C. sanguinolenta *seeds under different storage conditions.*



*G = germinability, MT = mean germination time, CV1 = coefficient of variation of the germination time, MR = mean germination rate. WBS = Weeks Before Sowing, FZ = Freezer, F = Fridge, RT = Room Temperature, WBS = Weeks Before Sowing.*

#### **Table 3.**

*Mean germination measurements of* C. sanguinolenta *seeds under different storage periods and storage conditions.*

Further evaluation indicated that seeds stored under freezer conditions prior to sowing produced higher germination percentage compared to those stored in the fridge and at room temperatures (**Table 2**).

Results from this study identified significant interaction between seed storage periods and storage conditions on germinability of *C. sanguinolenta* seeds where seeds stored for 4-weeks in the freezer prior to sowing recorded the highest germination (**Table 3**). Hence, freshly harvested *C. sanguinolenta* seeds are recommended to be stored at either room or freezer temperature conditions for a maximum of six weeks before sowing to achieve a higher germination percentage.
