Abstract:
An investigation entitled “Influence of storage period and growing media on seed germination and growth of acid lime seedlings (
Citrus aurantifolia Swingle) cv. Kagzi†was conducted during the year
Kharif - 2016 at Horticultural Research Farm, Department of Horticulture, B. A. College of Agriculture, Anand Agricultural University, Anand. The treatments comprised four levels of storage period (S)
viz., S
1- 0 day after seed extraction, S
2- 15 days after seed extraction, S
3- 30 days after seed extraction and S
4- 45 days after seed extraction and three levels of growing media (M)
viz., M
1- Soil + Vermicompost (1:1), M
2- Soil + Cocopeat (1:1) and M
3- Soil + FYM (1:1). The experiment was laid out in a Completely Randomized Design (Factorial) with twelve treatment combinations and repeated thrice. Sowing of seed immediately after extraction (S
1) from fruits recorded minimum
number of days (22.33) required for 50 percent germination, maximum germination percentage (70.50) 45 DAS and speed of germination (13.38) as well as growth parameters
viz., maximum
seedling height (50.99 cm), number of leaves per plant (26.07), root length (30.11 cm), shoot length (20.88 cm), dry weight of shoot (3.01 g), dry weight of root (1.56 g) and root : shoot ratio (0.52) at 120 DAS. Growing media M
2 recorded minimum days (30.33) for 50 percent germination, maximum germination percentage (63.27) at 45 DAS and speed of germination (12.47). At 120 DAS growing media M
1 recorded maximum seedling height (35.85 cm), number of leaves per plant (16.47), root length (22.72 cm), shoot length (13.13 cm), dry weight of shoot (1.66 g), dry weight of root (0.85 g) and root : shoot ratio (0.48). Treatment combination S
1M
2 recorded minimum days (18.00) for 50 percent germination with maximum germination percentage (74.55) at 45 DAS. Whereas, treatment combination S
1M
1 recorded maximum seedling height (53.7 cm), number of leaves per plant (30.87), shoot length (21.59 cm), dry weight of shoot (3.51 g) and dry weight of root (1.93 g) 120 DAS.