Studies on Seed Germination of Pummelo (Citrus Grandis L. Osbeck)

Pummelo seeds are classified as recalcitrant seeds, do not tolerate the low moisture level, low temperature storage or strong light. To carry out successful breeding programmed and also for genetical as well as rootstock studies, it is essential to have a high percentage of seed germination and uniform size of the seedlings. The present study was carried out to investigate the effect of GA3 solution and storage period on rate of seed germination and on growth of pummelo seedlings. For this aim; the trial was conducted in FRBD, with two factors viz., three levels of storage period and seven pre-sowing seed treatments. Thus, there were 21 treatment combinations and were 8 replicated thrice. The storage period was S1fresh seeds, S2-15 days stored seeds at ambient temperature, S330 days stored seeds at ambient temperature. Different pre-sowing seed treatments were T1control (i.e. No seed treatment), T2water soaking for 24 hrs, T3scalding at 50 C for 24 hrs, T4soaking of seeds in 50 ppm GA3 solution for 24 hours, T5soaking of seeds in 100 ppm GA3 solution for 24 hours, T6soaking of seeds in 150 ppm GA3 solution for 24 hours, T7soaking of seeds in 200 ppm GA3 solution for 24 hours. Observations on leaf area, 14 root volume; AGR (absolute growth rate) and RGR (relative growth rate) were recorded at 6 months age. Among, different physiological parameters studied, storage period had a significant effect on most of the characters viz; leaf area, root volume, AGR and RGR. From the result obtained and analyzed, during the present investigation, it could be concluded that, most of the pre-sowing seed treatments and their interaction effect, like freshly harvested seeds soaked with GA3 at 50 ppm for 24 hrs, followed by scalding at 50 C for 24 hrs treated pummelo seeds had shown better results, on percent germination and most of the growth parameters of pummelo seedlings than control.