Studies on Seed Dormancy Patterns and Dormancy Mitigation Strategies in Kodo Millet (Paspalum scrobiculatum L.) Varieties for Enhanced Seed Germinability

Abstract

Seed dormancy in kodo millet (Paspalum scrobiculatum L.) poses a significant challenge to timely germination and uniform crop establishment, particularly under rainfed farming systems. This constraint hampers crop productivity and limits the adoption of improved varieties by farmers. The present study was undertaken to investigate the dormancy patterns in kodo millet from post-flowering stages to six months after harvest, and to identify effective strategies for breaking seed dormancy. A systematic analysis revealed that dormancy initiates approximately four days before physiological maturity across all genotypes. Significant genotypic variation were observed in the dormancy-to-germination transition: varieties such as CKMV 3, ATL-2, ATL 1, and TNAU 86 exhibited earlier dormancy release, whereas JK 155 showed prolonged dormancy. Among these, ATL 2 recorded the highest germination percentage, followed by ATL 1 and TNAU 86. To identify effective dormancy-breaking methods, eight seed treatments were evaluated on ATL 2 (low dormancy) and JK 91 (high dormancy). Soaking seeds in a 1% potassium nitrate (KNO₃) solution for 4 hours significantly improved germination, reducing dormancy by 31% compared to the untreated control. These findings suggest that seed soaking in 1% KNO₃ for 4 hours is an effective, low-cost, and farmer-friendly method for breaking dormancy in kodo millet, thereby improving seedling establishment and crop productivity.