Effect of Pre-sowing Treatments to Break Dormancy in Senna (Cassia angustifolia Vahl.)

Abstract

The experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of pre sowing treatments on seed germination and seedling quality of senna (Cassia angustifolia Vahl.). Fifty seeds were taken per treatment and replicated thrice in Completely Randomized Design (CRD).There were 27 treatments including hot water soaking (6 hr), boiling water soaking (30 sec), soaking in absolute ethanol (72 hr), 25 per cent sulfuric acid (5, 10, 20, 30 min), 50 per cent sulfuric acid (5, 10, 20, 30 min), 25 per cent nitric acid (5, 10, 20, 30 min), 50 per cent nitric acid (5, 10, 20, 30 min), nicking, nicking along with soaking in water (4 hr), 5 ppm GA3 (24 hr), 10 ppm GA3 (24 hr), 100 ppm GA3 (3 hr and 4 hr), water soaking (24 hr) and untreated as control. Among all the treatments, water soaking (24 hr) has recorded rapid germination (5.33 days) and maximum germination percentage (58.88). Soaking in 25 per cent nitric acid for 30 min has recorded maximum seedling length (21.15 cm), seedling vigour index (1093.68) and fresh weight of seedling (0.30g). Soaking in 25 per cent nitric acid for 20 min has recorded maximum survival percentage (89.26). Thus, soaking of senna seeds in 25 per cent nitric acid for 20-30 min has resulted in good seedling quality and maximum survival of seedlings.