Effect of Hydro and Chemical Priming on Seed Germination and Seedling Growth of Rubber (Hevea brasiliensis)
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Date
2020
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Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka
Abstract
Rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) is propagated through grafting buds of selected clones onto
vigorous seedling rootstocks using a green budding technique. Both rootstock and
budwood should be of high quality for producing high quality budded rubber plants.
Seeds are used in raising rootstock plants of rubber. Being recalcitrant, rubber seeds
deteriorate within a few days after falling from trees. The use of old seeds has resulted in
low germination and extended germination period in commercial rubber nurseries. The
main objective of this study was to investigate the effects of hydro- and chemical-priming
on seed germination and seedling growth of Hevea. The experiment was conducted in a
nursery at the Rubber Research Institute of Sri Lanka, Dartonfield, Agalawatta. Seeds
were soaked in solutions of ZnSO4 (1% & 2%) Urea (0.05%, 0.10%, & 0.15%) and in
water (mock treatment) for 24 hours followed by sown in a germination bed according to
a randomized complete block design. Un-primed seeds were used as control. Germination
percentage was recorded at 7, 9, 11, 13, and 17 days after sowing. Growth parameters of
seedlings were recorded at monthly intervals for up to three months after transplanting in
polybags. Significantly higher germination percentages were recorded in seeds primed
with water (hydro priming), urea, and ZnSO4 after 17 days of sowing when compared to
control. However, the highest germination percentage was recorded from the seeds
primed with water (mock treatment). No significant differences were recorded in growth
parameters of seedlings raised from seeds primed with chemicals or water when
compared to those derived from un-primed seeds (control). Therefore, hydro priming may
be the simplest and cost-effective priming treatment to improve the germination of rubber
seeds.
Keywords: Germination, Growth, Seed Priming, Urea, Zinc Sulphate
Description
Keywords
Agriculture, Rubber Technology, crop Science