8/14/2019 NIM 2008-26

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NIM 2008-26

Comparative seed germination behaviour of opium poppy (Papaversomniferum L.) varieties under two test conditions

Kumar B, Ram G, Singh HP, Misra HO, Lal RK

Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR), Lucknow-226015

The opium poppy (P. somniferum L.) is of immense pharmaceuticals importance kept

apart, its seed are rich source of the fatty oil and protein and also has considerableimportance as culinary item in India. Seed being the basic agricultural input of any crop

and its quality is extremely important from the growers as well as consumers point of

view. As per International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) guidelines seed qualityparameter includes seed weight (test weight), genetic/ cultivar purity and

physical/analytical purity, germination and vigour, moisture content and seed health.

Physical purity, germinability and seed health decides crop stand while genetic puritygoverns the maximum yield potential. Seed weight, physical purity and germination

percent decides seed rate for the crop. Only high quality seeds of assured high genetic

and physical purity having high germination and vigour, which are free from weed seeds,inert matter and seed transmitted pests and diseases are expected to respond optimally toother inputs like fertilizers, irrigation and plant protection chemicals. Out of which only

germination parameter in five opium poppy varieties viz. Sanchita, Vivek, Sampada,

Sujata and Sweta under two test conditions viz.in-situ (petridish) and ex-situ (soil) werestudied. The present study envisaged the comparative seed germination behaviour of

opium poppy varieties and to determine the days of first and final count of seed

germination in in-situ and only final count in ex-situ condition along with associatedgermination parameters following ISTA rules. The data were recorded on germination

percent, germination energy and germination period. The study revealed that under in-

situ 5th day was appropriate for first count and 8 th day for final count while 28th day was

suitable for final count under ex-situ test condition. The mean germination percent of fivevarieties were ranged from 77.05 (Sweta) to 93.50 (Sanchita) in in-situ condition and

39.00 (Sweta ) to 66.25 (Sanchita) in ex-situ conditions when percentage germination was

counted on 14th day and 28th day, respectively. The germination period was found to be 5thday in in-situ and 28th day in ex-situ test conditions. In respect to percentage of

germination under two test conditions, the varieties differed significantly among

themselves. The present study revealed that the variety Sanchita had the maximum seedpercentage germination (95.25) followed by Sampada (94.75), Vivek (94.00), Sujata

(87.25) and Sweta (79.50) were recorded in at final count day in in-situ condition while

in ex-situ condition Vivek had maximum (73.00) followed by Sanchita (69.00), Sampada(57.00), Sujata (49.00) and Sweta (40.00) at final count day. Differential behaviour of

five varieties viz. Sanchita, Vivek, Sampada, Sujata and Sweta and the test conditions i.e.in-situ and ex-situ in absence of any interacting effect indicates the germination capacity

of these varieties may be due to their genetic make-up.