Effect of chemicals on seed germination and seedling growth of Aonla (Emblica officinalis Gaertn.)

The experiment entitled “Effect of chemicals on seed germination and seedling growth of Aonla (Emblica officinalis Gaertn.)” was carried out at Regional Horticultural Research Station (RHRS), ASPEE College of Horticulture and Forestry, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari during 2019-20. The experiment consisted 11 treatments viz. control (T1), water soaking (T2), thiourea @ 0.5 % (T3), thiourea @ 1.0 % (T4), thiourea @ 1.5 % (T5), KNO3 @ 0.5 % (T6), KNO3 @ 1.0 % (T7), KNO3 @ 1.5 (T8), GA3 @ 250 mg/l (T9), GA3 @ 500 mg/l (T10) and GA3 @ 750 mg/l (T11). The seeds of aonla were soaked with these chemicals for 24 hours and sown in polybags. The experiment was carried out in completely randomized design and repeated thrice. The effect of different treatments on germination, seedling growth and survival percentage were recorded. The results of experiment showed that aonla seeds treated with GA3 @ 500 mg/l (T10) gave the highest germination percentage (67.89) along with early emergence (6.20 days) of aonla seeds. Maximum seedling growth viz. number of leaves (25.46, 71.93, 106.26 and 119.26), seedling diameter (3.48, 6.40, 7.84 and 8.76 mm) and seedling height (48.60, 90.36, 106.40 and 114.60 cm) were observed with the treatment of GA3 @ 500 mg/l (T10) at 60, 90, 120 and 180 days after sowing. Highest leaf area (55.50 cm), fresh weight of shoot and root (117.86 and 32.06 g), dry weight of shoot and root (15.07 and 3.88 g), shoot : root ratio (3.67), vigour index-I (9839.25 cm) vigour index-II (1627.71 g) and survival percentage (72.12) were also noted in treatment GA3 @ 500 mg/l (T10) at 180 days after sowing.