Studies on Effect of Seed Treatment on Seed Germination and Subsequent Growth of Karonda (Carissa carandas L.) Seedlings

The present experiment was carried out at Department of horticulture, College of agriculture, VNMKV, Parbhani. During the year 2023-2024 with the objective to determine the best treatment for seed germination of karonda seedlings. and effect of different treatments on seedling growth parameters of karonda. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design involved 12 different treatments including control. Among various treatment applied. The results of the present investigation revealed that, The effect of seed treatment indicated that, the treatment (T11) seed soaking in water for 8 hour recorded maximum seed germination (82.50), fresh weight (3.47 gm), dry weight (1.37 gm) and seedling vigour index II (128.84 gm). while, seeds soaked in GA3 100 mg/l for 24 hours improved various growth parameters viz., seedling length (15.46, 24.13 and 30.21 cm), length of main root (8.23, 12.60 and 16.27cm) number of primary roots (22.07, 28.33 and 34.70 cm) number of secondary roots (25.24, 31.60, and 38.37) at 30, 60 and 90 DAS respectively. Seedling vigour index I (2828 cm) at 90 DAS and GA3 treatments resulted in the highest survival percentage (83.52%) and the lowest mortality rate (16.48%). andGA3 at 100 mg/litre resulted in the lowest incidence of damping off at 33.33 percent. Soaking of seeds in Thiourea at the rate 2% for 2 hours (T9) shows that the highest number of leaves (12.11, 20.00 and 29.01) at 30, 60 and 90 DAS respectively. While seed soaked in KNO31% for 1 hours and 2% for 2 hours gave significantly maximum diameter of seedlings (2.63 and 2.73 mm) at 90 days after sowing.