Effect of Seed Priming on Germination and Growth of Rough Lemon and Rangpur Lime Seedlings

Author: Bharti Choudhary, T.R. Sharma, S.K. Pandey and R.B. Singh

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Abstract

Citrus fruit belongs to Rutaceae family and it is one of the major horticultural crops grown in more than 100 countries worldwide. Rough lemon (Citrus jambhiri) and Rangpur lime (Citrus limonia Osbeck) is the most promising rootstock used for propagating mandarin in Central India. However, seed germination of these crops is very poor as well as late germination occurs. Slow seedlings growth bound to use as rootstocks. Rapid germination, maximum germination percentage and healthy seedlings stock are very much essential to fulfill the growing demands for budded and grafted quality planting material. Several studies have been indicated that seed priming will improve the germination and subsequent growth of seedlings in many fruits species. Therefore, pre-sowing seed treatment is very important and it can be done either by physical method such as scarification or by soaking in chemicals, growth regulators, organic substance etc. Cow urine affects the inhibitory response to seed germination, shoot growth and seedling vigor. Gibberellic acid (GA3) is an environment-friendly growth regulator which being used in couples of fruits crops to enhance phenotypic traits besides breaking the dormancy. The present experiment was carried out in Asymmetric Factorial Completely Randomized Design with four replications. Treatments include seed priming (GA3 200 ppm, cow urine 20% & control) and rootstock (rough lemon & rangpur lime). Seed priming with GA3 @ 200 ppm found maximum germination percent, survival percent, height of seedling, number of leaves/ seedling, root shoot ratio, seedling vigour index I & II and minimum days taken to first germination. Maximum germination percent, survival percent, seedling height, root shoot ratio and seedling vigour index I and minimum days taken to first germination at 60 days after sowing was recorded under the seed of rough lemon whereas maximum seedling vigour index II was observed in rangpur lime. The effect of seedling on number of leaves with different rootstocks was observed as non-significant. Seed priming in GA3 200 ppm with Rough lemon seeds significantly influenced the root shoot ratio and seedling vigour index II but not significant in germination (%), taken to first germination, survival percent of seedlings, height of seedling, number of leaves/ seedling and seedling vigour index I. Hence, combination as seed priming in GA3 200 ppm with Rough lemon seeds may be used for preparing seedlings/ rootstocks for further vegetative multiplication to fulfil the demand of quality planting material.

Keywords

Seed priming, GA3, cow urine and Rough lemon

Conclusion

On the basis of results found in the present investigation, it is, concluded that seed priming with GA3 @ 200 ppm found maximum germination percent , survival percent, height of seedling, number of leaves/seedling, root shoot ratio, seedling vigour index I & II (23.01 g) and minimum days taken to first germination. With regard to rootstock in rough lemon rootstock found maximum germination percent, survival percent, seedling height, root shoot ratio and seedling vigour index I and minimum days taken to first germination at 60 days after sowing was recorded under seed of rough lemon rootstock whereas maximum seedling vigour index II was observed in rangpur lime rootstock seedlings. The effect of rootstock on number of leaves with different rootstock was observed to be non-significant. Seed priming in GA3 200 ppm with Rough lemon seeds significantly influenced the root shoot ratio and seedling vigour index II but not significant in germination (%), taken to first germination, survival percent of seedlings, height of seedling (cm), number of leaves/seedling, and seedling vigour index I (cm).

References

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How to cite this article

Bharti Choudhary, T.R. Sharma, S.K. Pandey and R.B. Singh (2023). Effect of Seed Priming on Germination and Growth of Rough Lemon and Rangpur Lime Seedlings. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(2): 164-169.