Vol. 18 No. 1
Ameliorative effect of priming on germination potential of aged seeds of flowering winter annuals
Author(s): S. Jhanji, K. K. Dhatt, R. Kaur and U. K. Dhatt
Abstract: Decreasing germination potential of aged seeds in annuals poses a major threat to their business. To harness this loss, effect of priming on germination of seven winter annuals was studied in freshly harvested seeds (June), seeds after 3 (September) and 6 (December) months of storage. The seeds were primed for 24 hours and evaluated for germination potential. Germination of primed seeds was greater in all winter annuals as compared to their respective controls, and it decreased linearly with increase in storage duration. Priming Gaillardia seeds with boric acid@10 ppm was most effective in improving germination even after 6 months. The fresh Gazania seeds respond well to boric acid@50 ppm (96.67%), boric acid @75 ppm (90.33%) after 3 months and boric acid @25 ppm (91.67%) after 6 months. Thus, seed priming improved the germination potential of stored seeds of winter annuals although different annuals responded differently to chemicals used for priming.