THE DETERMINATION OF STORABILITY AND VIABILITY OF RUBBER SEEDS IN RUBBER RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF NIGERIA IYANOMO BENIN CITY, NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

The storage and viability of rubber Seeds from the rubber research institute of Nigeria was determined using four different methods. The aims were to find out which local method would be suitable to store rubber seeds outside other existing local methods. A set of seeds were stored inside paper bags and some spread outside paper bags. Another set were stored inside polythene bag and others outside the polythene bags. This was to give a comparative approach to the storage process. Other methods of storage includes freezing, refrigerating the seed and vacuum scaling of the seed. In the method used, it was observed that there were no significant difference (P= 0.05) in the storage method. All the methods used were not suitable for storage of the rubber seed. The seeds got rotten indicating that their viability was also affected. As observed in this study it might therefore be concluded that rubber seeds storage and viability needa more scientific approach. The methods used might not be recommended for storage and viability of rubber seeds within this location (Iyanomo, Benin city) were the work was done.