EFFECT OF ACCELERATED AGING ON LIPID PEROXIDATION, LEAKAGE AND SEEDLING VIGOR (RGR) IN CUCUMBER (Cucumis sativus L.) SEEDS

Abstract

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) seeds were SUbjected to environmental treatments known to shorten seed viability rapidly. The cultivar response, seed germ inability, seedling vigor, membrane damage and lipid peroxidation in cucumber seeds were compared. Accelerated aging treatment showed decline in germinability, loss of vigor, increased leakage and lipid peroxidation products. The results obtained suggest that the changes with aging are a function of free radical mediated damage to membranes and cultivar response.