Effect of different priming treatments on seed quality of delinted desi cotton (Gossypium arboreum L.) varieties picked at different intervals after fifteen months of controlled storage

Abstract

The present study was carried out in the Department of Seed Science and Technology Section, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, India. The study aimed to evaluate the effect of seed invigoration treatments on seed quality of desi cotton varieties (HD-123, HD-324 and HD-432) picked at different intervals and stored at 20oC with six per cent moisture content in sealed plastic containers . Study evaluated the effect of different seed priming treatments on germination, seedling length, seedling dry weight, vigor indices desi cotton varieties (HD-123, HD-324 and HD-432) to determine and exploit their usefulness in improving cotton seed quality for better seedling establishment. Seed ageing or progressin storage period led to reduction in seed quality, during storage as there is reduction in seed vigor potential and performance, stand establishment, poor emergence and high seedling mortality, thus leading to poor crop stand. Improvement in germination by seed priming may combat this problem as this physiological technique results in faster and synchronous seed germination as found in the study that when cotton seeds were primed for two hr. at 25o C with different chemicals (Control, KH2PO4, KNO3, PEG, GA3, Hydration- Dehydration) showed increase in seed germination per cent. It was found that seeds primed with GA3 significantly enhances the seed germination per cent, seedling length, seedling dry weight, vigor indices than other treatments (KNO3, KH2PO4, PEG, Hydration). Maximum germination, seedling length, dry weight, vigor indices, seedling establishment, field emergence index was observed in seeds of second pick treated seeds whereas minimum was observed in third pick seeds.