Seed Germination and Seedling Vigour of Spine Gourd (Momordica dioica Roxb.) in Response to Different Physical and Chemical Treatments

The present investigation was carried out at Department of Vegetable Science, OUAT, Bhubaneswar during 2019-2021. Five to six months old stored spine gourd seeds were exposed to various physical (T1: control, T2: 48 hours soaking in water, T3: hot water treatment for 20 minutes + 48 hourssoaking in water, T4: scarification by sand paper + 48 hours soaking in water, T5: removal of seed coat + 48 hours soaking in water) and chemical (C1: GA3 100 ppm, C2: GA3 200 ppm, C3: KNO3 1%, C4: KNO3 2%, C5: Thiourea 1%, C6: Thiourea 2% & C7: Control) treatments. The experiment was laid out in factorial CRD design with 35 treatment combinations replicated twice. The seeds were sown in plastic trays containing cocopeat media. The effect of these treatments on percentage of germination, length of seedling, seedling dry weight, seedling vigour index- I and II were studied. It was concluded that among the physical treatments, T5 (removal of seed coat + 48 hours soaking in water), among the chemical treatments, C1 (GA3 100 ppm) and between the interactions, T5C1 recorded highest germination percentage, seedling length, seedling dry weight, vigour index- I and vigour index – II. The lowest values were recorded in control. From the experimental results.it was observed that seed coat removed seeds soaked for 48 hours in water followed by treatment with GA3 100 ppm recorded highest germination percentage and seedling vigour in spine gourd.