Effect of Invigoration Treatment of Different Soaking Periods on Germination Performance of Bottle Gourd Seeds

This present experiment was conducted in a Seed Testing laboratory, Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding SHUATS, Allahabad, UP during 2021 with bottle gourd, in order to standardize the best method of invigoration of priming specific to bottle gourd. method of priming viz., halopriming were evaluated by screening a different range of durations and chemical concentrations viz., T0 – Unprimed seeds (control), T₁ - 50 ppm KNO3 (Potassium Nitrate) for 12 hrs, T₂ - 50 ppm KNO3 for 18 hrs, T₃-100 ppm KNO3 for 12 hrs, T₄- 100 ppm KNO3 for 18 hrs, T₅-125 ppm KNO3 for 12 hrs, T₆- 125 ppm KNO3 for 18 hrs. Treated seeds were placed in between germination paper and in sand at control condition where data was subjected to factorial experiment laid out in completely randomised design (CRD). In which it was found that 6th treatment 125 ppm KNO3 for 18 hrs., has the significant result as compared to all the treatments with the control, the highest germination %, seedling length, weight and vigor index I & II. This study showed that Seed priming with KNO3 found to increase the seed quality parameters. In the present study proved market price- effective and most economical method. This study helps to improve the quality and performance of seeds with the help of seed priming treatments which have effect on market price and economic, non-toxic, eco-friendly sources.