Effect of Pre-sowing Treatments on Vegetative Growth and Production of Graftable Rootstocks in Mango

The present investigations “Studies on the effect of pre-sowing treatment and time of wedge grafting on production of saleable grafts in mango” were carried out in the nursery block of Fruit Science Department. The study was conducted using wild mangoes seeds. The seeds were divided in two equal halves, one half of seeds were sown with intact seed coat (K1) while, in other half the mango kernels were extracted (K2), both type of seeds were then soaked in 6 different chemicals of varying concentrations viz. C1- KNO3 @ 0.5%, C2- KNO3 @ 1%, C3- KNO3 @ 1.5%, C4- BA @ 50 ppm, C5- BA @ 100 ppm, C6- GA3 @ 100 ppm, C7- GA3 @ 200 ppm, C8- beejaaumrit @ 2%, C9- beejaaumrit @ 3%, C10- panchgavya @ 2%, C11- panchgavya @ 3% for 12 hours and C12- Control. The germination and vegetative parameters were observed. The results of study revealed that the e×tracted kernels pre-soaked with GA3 @ 100 ppm produced earliest germination, 50 % germination, high rate of germination, germination percentage, number of leaves, maximum leaf area, highest seedling vigour index, while, on pre-soaking extracted kernel with KNO3 @ 0.5% produced maximum seedling diameter. The Seedling raised from extracted kernels pre-soaked in KNO3 @ 0.5% (C1K2) attained graftable diameter within 210 days of sowing. The present investigation was conducted during 2019-2020 at the nursery block of College of Horticulture and Forestry, Neri Hamirpur (H.P) to study the effect of pre-sowing treatments on germination, growth and production of graft-able seedlings.

Germinability and Seedling Growth Performance of Chilli (Capsicum annuum) Seeds in Response to Different Gibberellic Acid Concentrations Pre-Treatment

Chilli seeds are always associated with physiological dormancy characteristics or endogenous dormancy that has affected their germination potential. Problems noticed on the low seed germination rate, vigour growth, further may lead to the poor seedling growth pattern of chilli crop production. Gibberellic Acid (GA3) which is usually used as a treatment solution is not a new advent of seed dormancy breaking methods for chilli. But, looking forwards to a better GA3 concentration is still needed for the discovery of this treatment potential effect on chilli seed germinability and seedling growth. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of different GA3 concentrations on seed emergence and seedling growth performance in chilli. In this experiment, chilli seeds were imbibed with 25 mg/L, 75 mg/L and 125 mg/L concentration of GA3 with three replications each; for 24 hours at room temperature (32±4°C) and the untreated seeds as a control. The data collection on final germination percentage was taken daily for 21 days after sowing. While the 15 germinated seeds were directly planted on the 5 polybags arranged in the net house of Junaidy Jonik Farm, Sabah, Malaysia. The experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design with three replications. Data were subjected to analysis of variance with SAS version 9.4 and the significant means were separated by the least significant difference test at P<0.05. Significant differences were observed in the seed germinability measured; germination rate index (GRI), mean germination time (MGT) and final germination percentage (FGP), as well as on seedling vigour index (SVI) between treated and control seeds. Conversely, plant height, number of internodes, number of leaves and fresh weight of seedlings showed no significant differences among treatments. It was concluded that the use of GA3 was able to enhance chilli seeds germinability and could display a better SVI than the control. It is recommended to use GA3 treatment at 25 mg/L of concentration, as it may give an advantage to both economic and biological importance in producing higher germinability and seedling growth performance in chilli.

Control of Fusarium Wilt Using Streptomyces griseus with Plant Growth-Promoting Effect on Tomato

The efficacy of antagonistic Streptomyces griseus was evaluated against tomato wilt disease incited by Fusarium oxysporum. Among the different formulations, Streptomyces griseus with chitin amended formulation showed effective increase in seed germination and seedling vigour. Further, talc-based formulations of S. griseus mixed with or without chitin was developed and tested under greenhouse conditions. Lowest disease severity of 19.1% was observed in plants treated with self fusant (SFSg 5) S. griseus suspension (root dipping – 9 x 108 cfu / mL) followed by 19.5% in treatment of chitin amended S. griseus (root dipping – 9 x 108 cfu/mL) was recorded over control. Plant growth of the treated traits were analyzed and compared with control. The shoot length, root length, leaf area was increased significantly over the controls by the treatment of self fusant (SFSg 5) S. griseus suspension followed by nearby values were reached in chitin amended S. griseus was recorded. The chemical treatments had less effect compared with these formulations. Histochemical studies showed that cambium layers, xylem vessels per bundle, and the vessel diameter decreased in the plants inoculated with F. oxysporum over control and changes in variables were observed in infected plants treated with S. griseus. In conclusion, S. griseus can be a potential biocontrol agent against F. oxysporum for better crop production practices.

Optimization of ‘On Farm’ Hydropriming Conditions In Wheat: Soaking Time And Water Volume Have Interactive Effects On Seed Performance

Seed priming is a simple and cost effective method to obtain a better plant stand under diverse environmental conditions. The current study was designed to determine the optimal priming duration and water volume for wheat seed. For this experiment, three wheat genotypes with distinct genetic and adaptive backgrounds were chosen. Seeds of each genotype were hydroprimed for 7 durations, i.e. 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20 hours, in three different water volumes, i.e. half, equal, and double volume with respect to seed weight. The control was unprimed (dry) seed. The germination characteristics and seedling vigour potential of hydroprimed seeds were evaluated in the lab by recording several parameters such as germination percentage and speed, seedling growth, and vigour indices at two different temperature levels. The results showed that optimal duration for hydropriming of wheat seed is 12 hours with an equal volume with respect to original seed weight, closely followed by 8 hours with double volume. Reduction in seed performance was observed at 16 and 20 hours priming particularly at double volume treatment. Effect of temperature on seed germination showed improvement in seedling vigour at 25°C when compared to 20°C, although germination percentage decreased slightly. Volume of water and priming duration showed significant interactive effects demonstrating that a higher volume can give equivalent results at a shorter duration and vice versa.

Differential response of commercial hybrid and open pollinated maize seeds to mechanical damage during seed processing

Hybrids and open pollinated varieties (OPVs) are two commercial maize seed types cultivated in Nigeria. Information on their response to mechanical damage during processing is limited. This study is thus aimed at assessing the response of hybrids and OPVs of maize seeds to mechanical damage which would facilitate fabrication of processing facilities suitable for either of the maize types. Six maize varieties: three hybids (‘New Kaduna’, ‘SDM-1’, and ‘JO-195’) and three OPVs (‘Sammaz 15’, ‘Sammaz 27’ and ‘Suwan-1-stry’) were used for the study. The seed samples were subjected to standard germination, seedling vigour analysis, accelerated ageing, conductivity and fast green tests. The result showed that all the hybrid seed varieties had more damaged seeds than their OPVs counterpart. Shoot length and root length were more affected than other parts of the seedling. There were differences in the magnitude of electrolyte leakage as well as in what time each seed type (hybrid or OPVs) passed through the phases with ‘JO-195’ having the highest rate of electrolyte leakage. Hybrid seeds had lower resistance to mechanical damage and poorer storability when compared with the OPVs. In the overall, for all the traits, ‘Sammaz 15’, the best among OPVs was more promising when compared with ‘SDM-1’ which was the best among hybrid varieties. Processing machine equipment and accessories that are suitable for hybrid seeds might be inappropriate for conditioning OPVs.

Phenotypic correlation and regression of hydroponics maize fodder as influenced by seed rate, nutrient sources and spray schedule

The experiments were carried out at AICRP on Dry Land Agriculture, University of Agricultural Science, GKVK, Bengaluru to study the “Phenotypic correlation and regression of hydroponics maize fodder as influenced by seed rate, nutrient sources and spray schedule” during 2017-2018. The results of revealed significantly positive correlation between fodder yield per kg seed and yield parameter like total fresh weight of fodder per kg seed (r=0.95**), total dry weight per kg of seed (r=0.86*), growth parameters like shoot length (r= 0.90**), root length (r=0.85*) and seedling vigour (r=0.84*), physiological parameters like water use efficiency (r=0.86*), relative water content (r=0.91*) and SPAD (r=0.92**). With respect to nutrition study correlation coefficients of traits with fodder yield revealed positive correlation growth components like shoot length (r=0.90**), root length (r=0.74**), seedling vigour (r=0.86**) and dry matter accumulation (0.97**), yield parameters like Total fresh weight of fodder (r=0.96**), individual fresh weight of plant (r=0.95**) and individual dry weight of plant (r=0.97**), physiological parameters like SPAD (r=0.78**) and WUE (r=1.00**), quality parameters like nitrogen content, crude protein, crude fibre and total carbohydrates (r=0.927**, 0.927**, 0.770* and 0.905**, respectively). The study revealed significantly higher fodder yield with two combined sprays of urea and MOP each @ 1 per cent at 3rd and 10th Days after sowing (DAS) with 2.5 kg m-2 under hydroponic conditions.

SEED GERMINATION BEHAVIOUR, SEEDLING GROWTH, MORPHO-PHYSIOLOGICAL AND YIELD ATTRIBUTES OF RICE GROWN IN CADMIUM-ADDED SOIL

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of different levels of cadmium (Cd) stress on germination, morphology, physiology and yield of rice. There were five treatments, viz. control (no Cd), 0.5 mM CdCl2, 1 mM CdCl2, 1.5 mM CdCl2 and 2 mM CdCl2, carried out by a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Cadmium stress caused a significant reduction of plant height and tillers hill-1 in a dose-dependent manner. The highest decline of relative water content and SPAD value was found at 1.5 mM (11 and 16%) and 2 mM (14 and 19%) Cd stress compared to the control. The number of effective tillers hill-1, filled grains panicle-1, 1000-grain weight, length of panicle, grain yield and straw yield reduced significantly by 44, 32, 15, 24, 37 and 45%, respectively, over the control. Germination and seedling-related parameters were recorded 10 days after germination. The lowest germination percentage (27%), germination index (27%) and seedling vigour index (49%) were observed at the highest level of Cd stress in comparison to the control. Cadmium stress resulted in maximum abnormal seedlings and markedly reduced length of root and shoot as well as their fresh and dry weight. Root shoot ratio showed differential responses to Cd stress. Thus, it can be concluded that a higher level of Cd in soil has a detrimental effect on seed germination, morphology, physiology and yield of rice.

EFFECT OF PRIMING WITH SILVER FIR AND OREGANO ESSENTIAL OILS ON SEED GERMINATION AND VIGOUR OF SILENE SENDTNERI

UDK: 582.661.51:631.53.027]:547.913 In order to investigate the effects of seed priming with silver fir and oregano essential oils on certain important seedling characteristic and seed vigour of interesting endemic and horticultural species Silene sendtneri, an experiment was conducted based on randomized completely design with three replications. Traits such as germination rate, water content, dry weight, vigour index and photosynthetic pigments were analysed. Results revealed that the seedlings obtained with priming seeds showed increased growth, water content, vigour and photosynthetic pigment contents but decreased germination rate and dry weight compared with that obtained with non-primed seeds. Analysis of seed priming effects had demonstrated even germination rate is smaller the seedling vigour is slightly higher especially with all oregano oil treatments. We suggest that oregano oil has a potential as a priming agent for improvement of seedling synchrony, although at lower rate of germination.

Evaluation of Fungicides and Bioagents against Fusarium proliferatum under In vitro by Spore Germination Inhibition Technique

Background: Bottle gourd is a cucurbitaceous vegetable of culinary and medicinal importance cultivated in various tropical and sub-tropical regions of world. This crop is exposed to a wide variety of seed and soil mycoflora, out of which Fusarium proliferatum is utmost important as far as seed germination, viability and seedling vigour are concerned. Methods: Study was taken up to evaluate different fungicides and bioagents for their efficacy against the fungus Fusarium proliferatum under in vitro through spore germination inhibition technique. Result: Spore germination inhibition of 86.00%, 85.00% and 81.33% was recorded with hexaconazole (5% SC) @ 0.2% (C3), mancozeb (75% WP) @ 0.3% (C3) and Pseudomonas fluorescens (1% WP) @ 2% (C3), respectively. The inhibition in spore germination by mancozeb (75% WP) and Pseudomonas fluorescens (1% WP) was upto 77.33% and it was 61.78% and 67.33% in treatments involving carbendazim (50% WP) and Trichoderma harzianum (1% WP) that could be exploited to devise integrated approach for disease management.