A. K. Pal

Seed Priming on Germination, Growth and Flowering in Flowers and Ornamental Trees

Seed dormancy is an emerging problem related to germination which is common in many species of ornamental trees and flowers. Poor seed germination and subsequently poor field establishment are a common phenomenon at adverse conditions of environment. The most important problems faced are the heterogneity and lack of suitable conditions in soil that causes decrease in germination percent. Priming is a water-based technique that consents metabolic processes necessary for enhancing germination rate and seed quality by managing the temperature and seed moisture content in which the seed is taken through the first biochemical processes within the initial stages of germination but preventing the seed transition towards full germination. This is a successful way through which plants would be able to complete their growth on or before the stresses arrive (Subedi KD, Ma BL. Agron J 97(1):211–218, 2005). Seed priming technique has been practised in many countries including India, Pakistan, China and Australia, and more than thousand trials had been conducted to evaluate the performance of priming in a variety of crops. The principle of seed priming is to minimise the period of emergence and to protect seed from environmental stresses during critical phase of seedling establishment to synchronise emergence which lead to uniform establishment and improved yield. It reduces the effect of salinity on the morphological parameter of the plants. Various priming techniques, like osmopriming, biopriming, halopriming, thermopriming, hydropriming, hormonal priming and solid matrix priming, give favourable result in seeds of ornamental flowers as well as trees. This technique has been successfully carried out in flower crops like balsam, coneflower, cosmos, gladiolus, pansy, marigold, periwinkle, rudbeckia, salvia, snapdragon and zinnia and trees like cassia, cypress, senegal, eucalyptus, fig, teak, pine, almond, tamarind, oak, karanj, khejri, siris, subabul, kapok, gulmohar, kachnar, etc.

Effect of Picking Stages on Fruit and Seed Development in Okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench] Cultivars Kashi Pragati and Kashi Kranti

A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of picking on fruit and seed development in okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) cv. Kashi Pragati and Kashi Kranti. Data on fruit and seed characters were recorded from 4 to 40 days after flowering (DAF) at an interval of 2 days. Quick fruit development occurs between 4 to 8 DAF and fruits picked at this stage were of optimum fresh weight, length, diameter and free from thick pericarp thus making it consumable. Fresh weight of filled seeds was found to be maximum at 18 days after flowering in Kashi Pragati (7.61 g) whereas it was 22 days after flowering in Kashi Kranti (6.90 g), while dry weight of seeds per pod and 100 seed weight were maximum at 24 days after flowering. The physiological maturity of seeds was attained after 26 days after flowering when the germination percentage in both the cultivars was above 75%. However, to obtain optimum seed yield with optimum germination percentage and vigour, the fruits should be picked on at 38 days after flowering stage.

Effect of foliar application of zinc and iron on growth, flowering and post-harvest life in lilium cv. Navona

A research was conducted India to evaluate the necessity of micronutrients such as zinc and iron on growth, flowering and postharvest attributes in Asiatic lilium cv. Navona. The experiment comprised nine treatments, viz., ZnSO4 0.2%, ZnSO4 0.4%, FeSO4 0.2%, FeSO4 0.4%, ZnSO4 0.2% + FeSO4 0.2%, ZnSO4 0.2% + FeSO4 0.4%, ZnSO4 0.4% + FeSO4 0.2%, ZnSO4 0.4% + FeSO4 0.4% and control (distilled water) in a randomized block design with three replications. Significant effect was observed with the application of ZnSO4 0.4% + FeSO4 0.4%, which increased No. of leaves/plant, stem diameter, plant height, fresh and dry weight of leaves/plant, leaf area, chlorophyll content, No. of flower buds/plant, flower stalk length, pedicel length, diameter of 1st flower, longevity of 1st, 2nd and 3rd flower, No. of buds opened, No. of buds opened at a time in vase, stem weight on 1st, 3rd and 5th day, and weight of stem after withering. Early flower colour show and days to opening of 1st bud were exhibited with ZnSO4 0.2% + FeSO4 0.4%, which was statistically at par with ZnSO4 0.2% + FeSO4 0.4% treatment. In general both individual and combined doses of zinc sulphate and iron sulphate gave significant results over control.

Effect of sucrose and aluminium sulphate on postharvest life of lilium cv. Monarch

In this study, effect of sucrose and aluminium sulphate on prolonging vase life and postharvest quality of lilium was investigated. Lilium flowers cv. Monarch after harvest were kept in vase solutions containing sucrose (2%) or aluminium sulphate (100 ppm or 200 ppm) alone or in combination. While, control flowers were kept in distilled water. Results indicated that combination treatment of aluminium sulphate (200 ppm) and sucrose (2%) was highly effective in extending vase life of lilium up to 12.8 days compared to control (9.5 days). Uptake of water by these flowers was also recorded maximum (37.67 ml) than other treatments. Flowers kept in vase solution containing aluminium sulphate (200 ppm) had the maximum fresh weight of 42.65 g while, maximum withering weight (21.81 g) was recorded in flowers treated with sucrose (2%) + aluminium sulphate (100 ppm). The combination treatment of sucrose 2% and aluminium sulphate 200 ppm also delayed the opening of first and second flowers by 2.33 and 3 days, respectively than control. The flower longevity and diameter of opened flowers were also recorded highest by this treatment. Conclusively, combination treatment of sucrose (2%) and aluminium sulphate (200 ppm) was found highly effective in preserving quality and extending vase life of lilium during postharvest storage.