The Effects of Combinations of Temperature and Seed Moisture Treatments on Hardseededness in Okra

This research was conducted to fı nd out the effect of temperature and moisture combination (afterripening) treatments on occurrence of hardseededness in okra. Okra seed germination (loss of dormancy and hardseededness) was increased by afterripening (temperature and seed moisture treatments) seeds at 30, 40 and 50°C, with moisture contents between 9.4 and 17.7 % for up to 28 days at 30 and 4 days at 40 and 50 °C. From the water isotherms constructed, it was found that this involves water binding region 2. Afterripening reduced percentage of hardseededness from 54 -63 % at the lowest to 15-30 % at the highest moisture contents of water isotherms. Okra seeds, can be afterripened, at 30, 40 and 50 °C, within the range of water-binding region 2 and germination be improved.