28 Journal of Cereal Research Volume 13 (Spl - 1): 28-36 Research Article Homepage: http://epubs.icar.org.in/ejournal/index.php/JWR Analysis of deteriorative changes in seeds of cultivated rice under ambient storage condition Jintu Sonuwal, Sharmila Dutta Deka* and Prakash Borah Seed Science and Technology Program, Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat 785013 Article history: Received: 27 July, 2021 Revised: 18 Aug., 2021 Accepted: 02 Sept., 2021 Citation: Sonuwal J, SD Deka* and P Borah. 2021. Analysis of deteriorative changes in seeds of cultivated rice under ambient storage condition. Journal of Cereal Research 13 (Spl-1): 28-36. http://doi.org/10.25174/2582- 2675/2021/115289 *Corresponding author: E-mail: sharmila9368@gmail.com © Society for Advancement of Wheat and Barley Research Abstract Seed deterioration is a serious problem where seeds are usually stored without adequate humidity and temperature control. In the present study storage potential of four different types of cultivated rice varieties viz Mahsuri (HYV), Bokul Bora (Local glutinous rice), Kola Joha (Local aromatic rice) and Ronga Sali (Local pigmented rice) has been evaluated under ambient storage condition based on different physiological and biochemical parameters. Effect of packaging material on the storability of the rice seeds was evaluated using three different types of packaging materials viz. Cloth bag, HDPE interwoven bag and HDPE bag (600gauges). The highest seed viability was maintained by seeds stored in HDPE Interwoven bag (100%) by Ronga Sali followed by Bakul Bora (98.22%), Mahshuri (96.55%) and Kon Joha (97.89%) and followed by HDPE bag. Among the tested varieties Kola Joha- an aromatic variety is found to be most sensitive and prone to deterioration. The estimated biochemical parameters indicate gradual changes in all the tested varieties with increase in storage period. Seeds stored in HDPE Interwoven bags had the highest mean α-amylase activity (0.390µg) followed by the seeds stored in HDPE bags (0.362µg) and Cloth bags (0.352µg). Bokul Bora exhibited highest alpha amylase activity after storage of ten months and lowest was observed in Kola Joha indicating higher storage potential of the glutinous variety which is also assayed in the germination percentage and other vigour parameters. Variation in MDA content in tested rice varieties throughout the storage period indicates possibility of genetic factors associated with storability of different types of rice cultivars. Keywords: packaging material, rice, seed deterioration, storage, viability. 1. Introduction Seed is the basic input of agricultural production system and a living entity which ages with time. After physiological maturity and over storage time, seed quality deteriorates due to different internal and external factors; therefore assessment of seed deterioration is required to predict the storage behaviour of any crop. Determination of deteriorative changes is essential to minimize the rate of deterioration, and its fnale impact on seed production. In general the rate of deterioration is infuenced by seed moisture, storage temperature, but genetic makeup of the seed is another important factor (Lee et al., 2019). It is also have dependency on pre and post harvest operation and environmental condition (Walters et al., 2010). However temperature, seed moisture content and relative humidity of the storage environment are major determinants of seed aging (Ellis et al. , 1992, Rao et al., 2017). The aged seeds are reported to have