Influence of storage period and growing media on seed germination and growth of acid lime seedlings (Citrus aurantifolia Swingle) Cv. Kagzi

Abstract

An investigation entitled “Influence of storage period and growing media on seed germination and growth of acid lime seedlings (Citrus aurantifolia Swingle) cv. Kagzi” was conducted during the year Kharif - 2016 at Horticultural Research Farm, Department of Horticulture, B. A. College of Agriculture, Anand Agricultural University, Anand. The treatments comprised four levels of storage period (S) viz., S1- 0 day after seed extraction, S2- 15 days after seed extraction, S3- 30 days after seed extraction and S4- 45 days after seed extraction and three levels of growing media (M) viz., M1- Soil + Vermicompost (1:1), M2- Soil + Cocopeat (1:1) and M3- Soil + FYM (1:1). The experiment was laid out in a Completely Randomized Design (Factorial) with twelve treatment combinations and repeated thrice. Sowing of seed immediately after extraction (S1) from fruits recorded minimum number of days (22.33) required for 50 percent germination, maximum germination percentage (70.50) 45 DAS and speed of germination (13.38) as well as growth parameters viz., maximum seedling height (50.99 cm), number of leaves per plant (26.07), root length (30.11 cm), shoot length (20.88 cm), dry weight of shoot (3.01 g), dry weight of root (1.56 g) and root : shoot ratio (0.52) at 120 DAS. Growing media M2 recorded minimum days (30.33) for 50 percent germination, maximum germination percentage (63.27) at 45 DAS and speed of germination (12.47). At 120 DAS growing media M1 recorded maximum seedling height (35.85 cm), number of leaves per plant (16.47), root length (22.72 cm), shoot length (13.13 cm), dry weight of shoot (1.66 g), dry weight of root (0.85 g) and root : shoot ratio (0.48). Treatment combination S1M2 recorded minimum days (18.00) for 50 percent germination with maximum germination percentage (74.55) at 45 DAS. Whereas, treatment combination S1M1 recorded maximum seedling height (53.7 cm), number of leaves per plant (30.87), shoot length (21.59 cm), dry weight of shoot (3.51 g) and dry weight of root (1.93 g) 120 DAS.