Effect of media and GA3 on seedling growth of custard apple (Annona squamosa L.) CV. Sindhan

Abstract

An investigation was carried out to see the effect of media and GA3 on seedling growth of custard apple (Annona squamosa L.) cv. Sindhan during summer season of the year 2016 at Lalbaugh Farm, Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh (Gujarat). Amongst different growing media, height of seedlings, stem girth, number of leaves, leaf area at 60, 90 and 120 DAS were found significantly superior under M4 - soil + cocopeat + sand + FYM (1:1:1:1). Similarly, same treatment M4 - soil + cocopeat + sand + FYM (1:1:1:1) had also recorded the significantly maximum number of roots, root length, fresh and dry weight of shoot, fresh and dry weight of root and root-shoot ratio of custard apple seedling during course of experimentation. Amongst the different concentration of GA3, (G3- 200 mg/l) had significant influence on different parameters like maximum height of seedling; stem girth, number of leaves (and leaf area at 60, 90 and 120 DAS, respectively. Similarly, the same treatment (G3- 200 mg/l) was also recorded the maximum number of roots, root length, fresh and dry weight of shoot, fresh and dry weight of root and root-shoot ratio of custard apple seedling during course of experimentation. As regards the interactions, seedling growth parameters were found significant. Among the different combination of media and GA3 concentration treatment M4G3 - soil + cocopeat + sand + FYM (1:1:1:1) with GA3 200 mg/l had given maximum height of seedling, stem girth, number of leaves, leaf area at 60, 90 and 120 DAS, respectively. Similarly, same treatment combination M4G3 - soil + cocopeat + sand + FYM (1:1:1:1) + GA3 200 mg/l had given maximum fresh and dry weight of shoot and fresh and dry weight of root of custard apple seedling. Overall it can be concluded that soil + cocopeat + sand + FYM (1:1:1:1) media with GA3 200 mg/l seed treatment was found superior for growth of custard apple seedling cv. Sindhan.