EFFECT OF SEED PRIMING ON GERMINATION AND SEEDLING GROWTH OF PAPAYA (Carica papaya L.)

Seed priming before sowing is well documented to enhance germination and emergence rate of diverse crop species. A pot study was carried out to perceive the efficacy of seed priming on germination and seedling growth of Papaya. Seeds of three papaya varieties including White Beauty, New Sunrise and Mango were used in current study. All primed and unprimed seeds were sown in earthen pots, which were filled with potting medium. Sand, garden soil and farmyard manure were mixed in equal proportion in order to obtain potting medium. The results showed that parameters under observation in this study significantly affected seed priming technique. The results exhibited that germination and other germination related attributes of the papaya seeds were observed decreased with the increasing concentration of potassium sulphate i.e. from 1% to 4%. However the length and weight of shoot and root were observed increased with the increasing concentration of potassium sulphate solution. The highly significant results for most of the germination related parameters obtained from the priming treatment where potassium sulphate was used at 1% with germination percentage (74.08), germination index (2.27) and seedling vigour index (981.28). The maximum shoot length (6.278 cm), root length (16.222 cm) and fresh weight of the shoot (0.7538 g) were noticed from the priming treatment where potassium sulphate was used at 4%. The varietal comparison showed that White beauty had the highest germination percentage (65.54), germination index (1.496) and seedling vigour index (741.29). However maximum shoot (6.222 cm) and root length (14.068 cm) were observed in New Sun rise as compared to White beauty and Mango. There was no significant difference among varieties for mean germination time, fresh weight of shoot and root.