Studies on seed germination and seedling growth in Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam.) as influenced by media

Abstract

The effect of growing media on seed germination and seedling growth in Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam.) was under taken during the year 2016-17 and 2017-18 at College of Horticulture, Mulde Tal: Kudal Dist: Sindhudurg. Healthy, thoroughly washed seeds of more than 3 g weight from ripe soft fleshy jackfruits were collected. Such seeds were treated with Carbendazim solution for 5 minutes and sown in polybags of size 6’’ X 8” containing five different experimental growing media for testing germination and growth of seedling. Growing media viz., M1- Soil + FYM (3:1), M2- Soil + Vermicompost + Rice husk (2:1:1), M3- Soil + Vermicompost + Saw dust (2:1:1), M4- Soil + Vermicompost + Cocopeat (2:1:1) and M5 - Soil + Vermicompost + Rice husk + Cocopeat (1:1:1:1) were assessed for seed germination and seedling vigour in randomized block design with four replications. The results revealed that a mixture of media having Soil + Vermicompost + Rice husk + Cocopeat (1:1:1:1) were exhibited higher germination index (33.72), higher germination value (18.58), maximum seedling vigour index (4.60), showed more percentage of graftable seedlings (91.13%), the highest seed vigour (97.08). The inclusion of saw dust in media was found inhibitory effect for all the aspects under study.