Effect of different pre-sowing treatments on shoot growth of custard apple (Annona squamosa L.)

Abstract

The study conducted to know the Effect of different pre-sowing treatments on shoot growth of custard apple (Annona squamosa L.) was carried out at Instructional-cum Research Farm, Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, Badnapur. during the year 2015-2016. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design with eight treatments replicated thrice, comprising eight treatments of KNO₃ (0.1%), urea (0.1%), hot water, cold water, thiourea (1%), cow urine (10%), cow dung slurry (10%), GA₃ 400 ppm for 24 hrs. The results of the investigation revealed that, there were significant variations seedling growth of custard apple due to pre-sowing treatments. Amongst the different treatments, the seed soaked in GA3 400 ppm solution for 24 hours prior to sowing resulted in maximum stem diameter (0.16, 0.18 and 0.32 mm), maximum height (8.77, 13.40 and 19.57 cm), maximum leaf area (4.39, 18.50 and 31.82 cm2) at 30, 60 and 90 DAS respectively, maximum fresh weight of seedling (3.56 g) and maximum dry weight of seedling (0.82 g) was obsereved under treatment T8 i.e GA3 400 ppm for 24 hrs, However the maximum no. of leaves (12.67) was obsereved at 90 DAS in treatment T5 i.e thiourea (1%) for 24 hours. The present investigation concluded that the better seed growth of custard apple seedling was observed in treatment T8 i.e GA3 400 ppm for 24 hours is desirable.