Vol. 12, Issue 10 (2023)

Author(s):
Sultan Singh, Virender Singh Mor, Axay Bhuker, Rahul Kumar, Gagandeep Singh and Digamber

Abstract:
The quality of seeds is a critical factor in crop establishment and has a substantial influence on overall production and productivity. Seed treatment is used to manage seed-borne pathogens, insects and pests which can directly impact seed quality, germination, and vigor. This study was conducted during 2018 to 2020 at the Department of Seed Science and Technology, Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University in Hisar, aimed to assess the influence of pesticide and biofertilizer treatments on the seed quality of wheat varieties (WH1105 and WH1124). The results revealed that seeds treated with Azotobacter exhibited improved seed quality across various parameters. The maximum speed of germination was recorded in treatment T₆-Chlorpyrifos+Azotobacter and the germination percentage, seedling length, seedling dry weight, vigor indicex-I, vigor index-II, field emergence index and seedling establishment all these parameters were recorded highest with treatment T₃-Azotobacter. Chlorpyrifos had a detrimental effect on seed quality when treated as individual along with different combinations. Furthermore, the performance of WH1124 was better than WH1105 in different parameters. These findings suggest that biofertilizers enhance seed quality, whereas the insecticides and fungicides have a deleterious influence on seed quality.