Effect of Seed Treatment and Growing Condition on the Germination and Survivality of Custard Apple (Annona squamosa L.) Seedlings

Abstract

The study was carried out during the year 2018-2019 at the Fruit Research Station Imalia and in laboratory of Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Jabalpur (M.P.). The experiment was laid out in Factorial Complete Randomized Design (FCRD) replicated thrice. The experiment consist of two factor viz. A- Three growing condition (G3 - Poly house, G2-net house, G1-Open condition) and B- Six seed treatment (S1 - Water soaking, S2-Cowurine, S3-GA3, S4-KNO3, S5-Thiourea, S6-Sodium Thiosulphate) having 18 treatment combinations. Observation were recorded on various aspects like days taken to 1st germination, days taken to 50 % germination, height of seedling, girth of stem, number of leaves, fresh weight of shoot and root, dry weight of shoot and root, root length, total length of seedling, number of roots/seedling, survival percent of seedling. On the basis of present investigation, it is concluded that among  the various seed treatments  and growing condition, the growing condition of  poly house and seed treatment with GA3 500 ppm have been proved superior with respect to germination, growth and survival of seedling. Among various treatment combinations, G3S3 treatment combination (Poly house and GA3 500ppm) found best over the rest of the treatment combinations with respect to germination parameters like minimum days taken to 1st germination (25.33) days taken to 50% germination (45.66), growth parameter like maximum - height of shoots (25.13cm), girth of stem (3.91mm) and number of leaves 18.91 at 160 DAS respectively, root length(15.13cm), number of roots/seedling(45.12), survival percentage of seedling (89.34%).The G3S4 (Polyhouse and KNO3) was found next best treatment combination in this respect.