Improvement of seed germination and seedling growth of papaya (Carica papaya L.) through different pre-sowing seed treatments.

摘要

Proper seed germination and seedling growth are most important considerations in successful seedling production under nursery technique of papaya cultivation. As the germination rate and seedling growth are affected by pre-sowing seed treatment of papaya with growth regulators and micronutrients, an experiment was carried out to identify a suitable treatment for getting better seed germination and seedling growth. Seeds were soaked with GA₃ (at 100, 150 and 200 ppm), sodium thiosulphate (at 20, 25 and 30 ppm) and micronutrient mixtures (4 different combinations of borax and zinc sulphate). Among the 11 treatments, GA₃ at 150 ppm was found best in respect to seed germination (72.2%) followed by sodium thiosulphate at 20 ppm (68.1%). But maximum seedling growth (52.32 cm seedling height and 5.18 cm seedling girth) was observed under GA₃ at 200 ppm. Borax at 0.50% along with ZnSO₄ at 0.25% also markedly improved the seedling growth.