Optimizing priming concentration and duration of various priming agents for improved seed germination in chilli (Capsicum annum L.)

Abstract

The present investigation was carried out on chilli cv. Kashmir long –I during the year 2017 at the Division of Basic Sciences and Humanities, SKUAST-K to standardize the priming concentration and duration of different priming agents for improved seed germination potential. Uniform seeds were soaked in different concentrations of PEG 6000 solution – osmopriming (-0.5, -1.0, and -1.5MPa), vermiwash, vermin priming (4, 6 and 8× dilution) and melatonin – hormonal priming (5, 10 and 15ppm), kept in an incubator for 18, 24 and 30 hours. Seeds were also soaked in distilled water – hydropriming. After a specified period of time seeds were removed from the solutions and air dried at room temperature. 50 primed seeds were sown in petri-dishes lined with ten layers of water saturated blotting papers and kept in germinator for germination studies. Observations on various germination parameters were recorded at (25±2°C). Priming of chilli seeds for with -0.5 MPa solution of PEG (24 hours), 8× dilution of vermin wash (30 hours) and 5ppm solution of melatonin (30 hours) gave the best results in terms of various germination attributes. Among various hydro priming durations 30 hours was proved as best treatment.