Physiological and Biochemical Changes during Seed Deterioration in Perilla Frutescens (l.) Brittion

Accelerated ageing test was conducted in laboratory on seeds of 20 different accessions of Perilla frutescens (L.) Brittion to understand the effect of deterioration on seed health and viability. Seeds were aged for 48 and 72 hours though accelerated ageing treatment (100% RH and 440 C temperature) and were analyzed for various physiological and biochemical parameters. The germination percentage, vigour index, speed of germination and seedling length decreased as the accelerated ageing period increase in all seed lots. Average increase in the electrical conductivity values of  seed leachates over control was 106.55 per cent after 48 hrs and 170.27 per cent after72 hrs of ageing treatment. Total soluble protein declined by 30.83 per cent after 48 hrs and 50.34 per cent after 72 hrs of accelerated ageing. Thousand seed weight was positively correlated with speed of germination and germination percentage and was negatively correlated with lipid peroxidation and decrease in soluble proteins. Lipid peroxidation values increased significantly in aged seed lots over the control.