Comparative Germination Performance of Pot Marigold Varieties under Different Biopriming Regimes

Abstract

Pot marigold (Calendula officinalis L.) seed germination can vary with variety and pre-sowing treatment. This study evaluated the germination performance of three Fiesta Gitana pot marigold varieties—White, Yellow, and Orange—under five priming regimes: control, hydropriming, cow urine, Panchagavya, and neem leaf extract. The experiment was conducted during winter 2025–26 using a Factorial Completely Randomised Design with three replications. Seeds were subjected to the respective priming treatments for 12 h, and germination performance was assessed using days to first germination, days to 50% germination, germination percentage, mean germination time, and germination index. Significant variation was observed among varieties, priming treatments, and their combinations. Fiesta Gitana White showed the best overall varietal performance, while Panchagavya produced the most favourable response among the priming treatments. The V₁P₃ combination (Fiesta Gitana White + 2% Panchagavya) recorded the earliest first germination at 2.67 days, the highest germination percentage at 95.24%, the lowest mean germination time at 10.60 days, and the highest germination index at 7.02. Fiesta Gitana White also recorded the shortest varietal mean for 50% germination at 9.47 days. The untreated control generally showed the poorest performance across the measured parameters. These findings indicate that germination responses in pot marigold were dependent on both variety and priming treatment and that 2% Panchagavya was the most effective treatment under the conditions of this experiment.