Vol. 10, Issue 4 (2021)

Author(s):
Battini Sriteja, Dr. AK Chaurasia and Navyashree MS

Abstract:
The experiment was conducted in post graduate Seed Testing Laboratory, Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj (U.P.) during Kharif season 2019, in order to standardize the best treatment of hardening to Cowpea (..var….). Seed hardening treatments with control (Unhardened) were evaluated by screening 12 hour viz., T₀ – Control, T₁ – DH₂O, T₂ – MnSO₄, T₃ – ZnSO₄, T₄ – Na₂MoO₄, T₅ – NH₄NO₃, T₆ – KCl, T₇ – NaCl, T₈ – GA₃, T₉ – SA, T₁₀ – IAA, T₁₁ – Pungam leaf extract, T₁₂ – Proposis leaf extract. It was found that all the seed hardening treatments showed significance difference with the control and in laboratory condition highest germination per cent observed in T₆- KCl (1%) and seedling length, seedling fresh weight, seedling dry weight, vigour indices were observed for T₈- GA₃ (40 ppm). In field highest field emergence percentage observed in T₆- KCl (1%) and plant height, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, seed yield per plant, seed yield per plot, biological yield, harvest index were observed for T₈- GA₃ (40 ppm). Highest germination was observed in KCl (1%) and yielding parameters in GA₃. Pre-sowing seed treatment with GA3 enhance germinability and seedling character, its simplicity and no requirement for expensive equipment and chemical could be used as a simple method for overcoming related to a poor germination and seedling establishment.