Effect of agrochemicals on induction of seed dormancy in groundnut

Abstract

The incessant rain during physiological crop maturity leads to the pre-harvest field sprouting in groundnut and is a major constraint for realizing potential yield. The leaching of abscisic acid from matured kernels due to prolonged saturated soil moisture condition seems to be a physiological cause for vivipary. A short period of seed dormancy is needed to minimize these yield losses. So, a field experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with three replications at the College of Agriculture, Raichur during Kharif 2022. There were nine treatments comprising of foliar spray of maleic hydrazide (1500 ppm), cycocel (1500 ppm), sodium chloride (1%) and thiourea (1%) at 60 DAS and 80 DAS and control. Results revealed that maleic hydrazide sprayed at 60 DAS recorded significantly lower per cent in situ pod sprouting (1.93%), germination percentage (41.33%), seedling vigour index I and II (768.67 & 125.31) respectively, followed by cycocel at 60 DAS over control which recorded per cent in situ pod sprouting (11.20%), germination percentage (91.33%), seedling vigour index I and II (1858.6 & 305.55) respectively, immediately after harvest. Lower in situ pod sprouting may be due to the metabolic changes taken place in the seed itself.