Abstract: To validate the effect of vacuum and sealed package on seed viability and longevity after long-time storage in mid-term low-temperature (−2±2°C) genebank, we sampled 89 accessions of common wheat seeds (89 samples) to compare their survival status, rate of seeds deterioration (1/σ), seeds initial quality (Ki), half-life period (P50), and storage longevity (log σ) with the same accessions that in non-vacuum packages during the 11-year storage. The survival frequencies and aging characteristics of 89 samples in both packages followed the normal distributions according to chi-square tests. In a few genotypes, the rate of seeds deterioration and longevity characteristics showed obvious differences between the vacuum and non-vacuum package treatments. Wheat genotypes with identical initial moisture and prestorage environment showed different rates of significant deterioration in the two-package treatments, of which vacuum packaging treatment presented lower rate and lightened degree of seed aging. Therefore, vacuum and sealed package has the effect on lessening seed deterioration and maintaining seed longevity compared to the non-vacuum package. We also observed the higher value of Ki in the vacuum and sealed packaging treatment than in the non-vacuum packaging treatment. However, it seems not to support the hypothesis of Ki as the indicator for seed initial quality.

Key words: Mid-term low-temperature genebank, Wheat seeds, Vacuum package, Seed aging characteristics, Germination percentage