Effects of Seed Priming with Plant Growth Regulators (PGRs) on the Quality and Vigour of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L)

Abstract

The  field experiment was carried out at Student’s Instructional Farm of C.S. Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur, during the rabi seasons of 2023-24 and 2024-25 to assess effect of various priming treatments on seed quality and vigour parameters on chickpea (Cicer arietinum L. cv. KWR 108). Laboratory evaluations were carried out in the Department of Seed Science and Technology, using a Completely Randomised Design (CRD) with four replications. The experiment examined fifteen treatments which included different plant growth regulators and in different concentrations. Germination parameters (standard germination, peak value of germination and mean daily germination), growth indices (relative growth index and germination value), seed viability, seedling metrics (seedling length and seedling dry weight), and vigor indices revealed significant treatment effects. However, priming with GA₃ @ 100 ppm for 8 hours gave peak responses for standard germination (92.38%), peak value (20.80), mean daily germination (11.55%), relative growth index (72.54), germination value (240.21), seed viability (94.09%), seedling length (10.54 cm), seedling dry weight (1.81 g), vigor-I (970.02), and vigor-II (166.90). Apart from this, untreated control showed lowest results for all the parameters studied. Hence, from the above results it could be concluded that the optimal priming with GA₃ @ 100 ppm for 8h substantially enhanced the seed quality and vigor indices in chickpea.