Influence of different stages of fruit maturity on seed germination and seedling growth of citrus species.
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Date
2023-02-27
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College of Horticulture and Forestry, Central Agricultural University, Pasighat -791102 Central Agricultural University (Imphal)
Abstract
North Eastern part of India has been growing numerous forms of citrus from a hoary past and it also abounds in wild forms of the genus citrus. Hence it is considered by many to be the ‘creator centre’ of citrus flora of India. To maintain the germplasm, seeds offer a convenient way to store germplasm over time and to transport it over long distances even across international boundaries. Production of seedlings thorough the seed germination is easy and convenient. Increase in production of seedlings also helps to farmers to establish orchards. Keeping this in view an attempt has been made to raise seedlings from seeds extracted at different fruit maturity stages.
Treatments were executed by 2 factor CRD. For the experiment seeds were collected from three fruit maturity stages Green Mature Stage (M1), Colour turning stage (mature stage) (M2), Fully mature stage (Yellow /orange Stage) (M3) of 5 citrus species namely, Citrus reticulata (S1), Citrus limonia (S2), Citrus aurantifolia (S3), Citrus sinensis var. valencia orange (S4) and Citrus sinensis var. sathgudi (S5). Total number of treatments combinations were fifteen with three replications in each. Although seeds extracted from Fully mature stage (M3) of citrus fruits exhibited the highest germination percentage but was at par with the other stages of fruit maturity. High germination vigour index, more fresh weight of leaves, and dry weight of roots was observed in seeds extracted from fully matured fruits. In case of plant height, stem girth, number of leaves, Root: Shoot ratio, was maximum and at par in Colour turning stage (M2) and Fully mature stages (M3) of fruits. The highest chlorophyll content (a,b and total) was maximum in seedlings raised from seeds extracted from fruits at colour turning stage. From the present investigation it is concluded that for raising healthy seedlings of different citrus species the process of seed extraction can begin from colour turning stage of fruits and can be extracted till full maturity of the fruits.
Description
North Eastern part of India has been growing numerous forms of citrus from a hoary past and it also abounds in wild forms of the genus citrus. Hence it is considered by many to be the ‘creator centre’ of citrus flora of India. To maintain the germplasm, seeds offer a convenient way to store germplasm over time and to transport it over long distances even across international boundaries. Production of seedlings thorough the seed germination is easy and convenient. Increase in production of seedlings also helps to farmers to establish orchards. Keeping this in view an attempt has been made to raise seedlings from seeds extracted at different fruit maturity stages