INFLUENCE OF CHEMICAL PRETREATMENT ON GERMINATIONAND SEEDLING PERFORMANCE OF FRESH AND STORED SEED OF NEEM (AZADIRACHTAINDICA A. JUSS.)

摘要

The influence of chemicals pretreatment on germination and seedling performance was studied in Azadirachta indica. Green-yellow fruits were collected, depulped and dried under shade till reached equilibrium moisture content of 7%. Various chemicals were used to pre-treat the fresh and stored seeds for enhancing seed and seedling attributes under nursery conditions. Seeds were stored for 35 days under ambient room temperature (35 +- 5 deg C) in a sealed 200mu polythene bag and kept in a airtight plastic container. Seeds were soaked in Urea and Diammonium phosphate (1% each), Potassium Dihydrogen Orthophosphate (KH_2PO_4), Potassium Nitrate (KNO_3), Potassium Chloride (KC1), Indole-3-Acetic Acid (IAA), Indole-3-Butyric Acid (IBA), Gibberellic Acid (GA_3), Naphthalene Acetic Acid (NAA), 6-Benzlaminaopurine (6--BAP) and Kinetin (100 mu g ml~(-1) each) for 12 h. The water soaked seeds were kept as control. Seeds were sown in nursery bed and seedlings were uprooted and washed after 21 days. Seeds and seedlings traits like germination%, MGT, GV, total seedling length, collar diameter, number of leaves, total biomass, vigour index, volume index, sturdiness quotient and root shoot ratio have been studied. Most of the chemicals showed either non significant or negative effect on germination percentage, germination value (GV) and mean germination time (MGT) over control.