IMPACT OF DIFFERENT SOURCES OF WATER AND VERAPAMIL ON SEED GERMINATION & STEM LENGTH

The present study investigates the impact of different sources of water and the calcium channel blocker verapamil on seed germination and stem length. The experiment aimed to determine how varying water quality and the presence of verapamil influence early plant growth. Seeds were irrigated using four water sources—tap water, distilled water, rainwater, and river water—with and without the addition of verapamil at a fixed concentration. Germination percentage, germination rate, and stem length were recorded over a fixed period. Results indicated that water quality significantly affected both germination and stem elongation, with distilled and rainwater promoting the highest germination percentages and longest stems. The inclusion of verapamil generally reduced both germination rate and stem length across all water treatments, suggesting that calcium channel inhibition interferes with cellular processes essential for seed germination and growth. Overall, the study highlights the importance of water composition and ion transport regulation in early plant development.