Effect of GA3 and Time of Seed Soaking on Germination and Seedling Vigour of Sandalwood

The experiment was carried out under greenhouse condition with two factors i.e., different GA3 levels viz., Control (g0), seed soaking in GA3 100 ppm (g1), seed soaking in GA3 200 ppm (g2), seed soaking levels viz., in GA3 300 ppm (g3), seed soaking in GA3 400 ppm (g4), seed soaking in GA3 500 ppm (g5) and seed soaking for 12 hours (t1), seed soaking for 18 hours (t2) and seed soaking for 24 hours (t3). The results of the study revealed that, significantly minimum days for germination (21.44), higher survival percentage at 60 days after sowing (65.35), number of roots per seedling at the time of final survival (4.40), maximum length of roots per seedling at 60 days after sowing (7.58 cm) and height of plant at 90 days after sowing (12.27 cm), maximum survival percentage (100) at 15 days after bagging and stem diameter at 90 days after sowing (0.24 cm) was recorded with treatment g5 (Seed soaking in GA3 500 ppm). From the pooled data, significantly early germination (22.00 days), maximum survival percentage (59.87) at 60 days after sowing, number of roots (4.00) per seedling at the time of final survival, length of roots per seedling (7.76 cm) at 60 days after sowing, height of plant at 90 days after sowing (12.03 cm), maximum survival percentage (99.69) at 15 days after bagging and stem diameter at 90 days after sowing (0.23 cm) was recorded with treatment t3 (Seed soaking for 24 hours). From the present investigation, sandalwood seed soaking treatment with GA3 500 ppm for 24 hours recorded early germination, higher survival and superior in seedling vigour.