Influence of seed pelleting on seed quality improvement in bael (Aegle marmelos (L.) Corr.): A multipurpose endangered tree

Bael is an endangered medicinal tree with multipurpose utility, propagated through seeds. Hence, attempts were made to improve the vigour of the seed through seed pelleting with eco-friendly organic products. The study investigated the influence of seed pelleting through a series of laboratory experiments (factorial completely randomized design - FCRD) and nursery studies (randomized block design - RBD) with five replications. The seeds were pelleted with botanical leaf powders namely, karisilanganni (Eclipta prostrate), avaram (Cassia auriculata), arappu (Albizia amara) and neem (Azadirachta indica); biofertilizers such as Azophos, phosphobacteria and biocontrol agents viz. Trichoderma viride and Pseudomonas fluorescens, along with unpelleted control seeds. The results revealed that, among the treatments arappu pelleting enhanced germination (76 %) and seedling quality characters such as root length (13.0 cm), shoot length (9.9 cm), dry matter production (318 mg) and vigour index (1740), followed by neem leaf powder and phosphobacteria pelleting compared to the control. The result concluded that seed pelleting with arappu or neem leaf powder at 250 g kg-1 of seed or phosphobacteria at 100 g kg-1 of seed by using 10 % as gum as an adhesive, enhanced seed germination and seedling vigour under both laboratory and nursery conditions.