Unlocking the Growth Potential of Melia azedarach Seedlings: The Synergistic Impact of Glomus mosseae and Pre-sowing Treatments

Author: Mamta Khaiper, Sunil Kumar Dhanda, Karan Singh Ahlawat, Pawan Kumar Poonia, Anil Kumar, Preety Verma, Rakesh Chugh and Monika Jangra

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Abstract

Melia Azedarach seeds exhibit irregular germination patterns, leading to uneven growth rates among seedlings by implementing pre-germination treatments these seedlings can be nurtured into thriving trees. This study was conducted in the Nursery of the Forestry Department at CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar in 2019. The aim was to investigate the impact of various pre-sowing treatments (including normal water, concentrated H2SO4, gibberellic acid, and cow dung slurry) on the growth and biomass of Melia azedarach seedlings, both individually and in combination with the mycorrhizal fungi Glomus mosseae. The experiments were carried out in a greenhouse from March to October 2019, using a completely randomized design. Each experiment comprised six treatments, including a control group, with Glomus mosseae used as a common treatment in every experiment. The experiments were replicated five times. Results showed that Melia azedarach seeds soaked in normal water for 72 hours + Glomus mosseae, concentrated H2SO4 for 8 minutes + Glomus mosseae, gibberellic acid 200 ppm for 24 hours + Glomus mosseae, and cow dung slurry for 6 days + Glomus mosseae exhibited the highest seedling height, root length, root-to-shoot ratio, and seedling vigor after 180 days of sowing. These treatments also resulted in the largest leaf area, highest fresh and dry shoot and root weight, and highest seedling vigor index. Among all the treatments, soaking the seeds in gibberellic acid 200 ppm for 24 hours and sowing them in soil inoculated with Glomus mosseae spores was found to be the most effective pre-sowing treatment for promoting vigorous growth and maximizing the biomass of Melia azedarach seedlings.

Keywords

Glomus mosseae, Melia azedarach, Gibberellic acid, leaf area and seedling vigor.

Conclusion

The study's findings demonstrated the significance of pre-sowing interventions for seedling development and biomass production in Melia azedarach. Whereas, Glomus mosseae-treated seeds had a greater favorable impact on growth and biomass than untreated seeds or seeds treated without Glomus mosseae. The seedlings whose seeds were treated with the treatments Normal water for 72 hours + Glomus mosseae*, Conc. H2SO4 for 8 minutes + Glomus mosseae*, Gibberellic acid 200 ppm for 24 hours + Glomus mosseae*, and Cow dung slurry for 6 days + Glomus mosseae* were recorded to have the highest levels of seedling height, root length, root: shoot ratio, seedling vigor Out of all of these treatments, Gibberellic acid 200 ppm for 24 hours plus Glomus mosseae* had the greatest results in terms of growth and biomass. Therefore, Melia azedarach seeds should be treated with 200 ppm of gibberellic acid for 24 hours along with Glomus mosseae to achieve greater seedling growth and biomass.

References

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How to cite this article

Mamta Khaiper, Sunil Kumar Dhanda, Karan Singh Ahlawat, Pawan Kumar Poonia, Anil Kumar, Preety Verma, Rakesh Chugh and Monika Jangra (2023). Unlocking the Growth Potential of Melia azedarach Seedlings: The Synergistic Impact of Glomus mosseae and Pre-sowing Treatments. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(8a): 371-377.