Effect of different pre-soaking seed treatments on germination and growth of Kokum (Garcinia indica Choisy)

The experiment was carried out at College of Horticulture, Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli. It was laid out in a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with nine treatments and three replications. The treatments included water (T1), GA3 at concentrations of 50 ppm (T2), 100 ppm (T3), 150 ppm (T4) and 200 ppm (T5), cattle dung slurry (T6), KNO3 at 1.0% (T7), Thiourea at 1.0% (T8) and a control (T9). The present investigation revealed that T4 (GA₃ at 150 ppm) performed the best, recording the shortest time for first emergence (17.67 days) and highest germination percentage (89.67%). It also resulted in superior speed of emergence (33.86) and seed vigour (98.67%). Moreover, T4 produced the tallest seedlings (30.21 cm) with the greatest girth (4.81 mm), highest number of leaves (20.43) and largest leaf area (82.42 cm²). Peak value (12.81% per day) was also highest under this treatment. Additionally, T4 seedlings reached 80% graftable stage the fastest (170 days), with the highest percentage of graftable seedlings (98.82%) and final survival rate (86.67%).