Kumar, Ajay(Dr.)Rawat, AnchalPaliwal, Arunima(Dr.) (Member)Kumar, Pankaj (Dr.) (Member)Rawat, Deepa(Dr.) (Member)2024-08-022024-08-022023Th307https://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810212700Title:“Seed quality enhancement of Asian spiderflower (Cleome viscosa Linn.) through chemical priming” The Cleome viscosa Linn.is an annual herb and a condiment plant which is locally known as “jakhiya” in hills of Uttarakhand and globally as Asian spider flower. The seed quality and germination of older and freshly harvested seeds of Cleome viscosa Linn.were recorded poor due to dormancy and other factors. Therefore, the research was planned to assess the seed quality and chemical priming in two lots of Asian spiderflower genotypes. The seed quality assessment experiment was conducted in FRBD (factorial randomized block design), which comprised of three factors viz. two seed lots (2021 and 2022), two temperatures (300C and 260C) andfour genotypes of Asian spiderflower (GPPA, GPUT, GPCH and GPTE) in three replications. The other seed quality assessment tests like physiological, bio-chemical and stress tests were also conducted in FRBD which comprised of two factors viz. two seed lots (2022, and 2021) and four genotypes (GPPA, GPCH, GPUT and GPTE) in three replications.The three seed quality enhancement experiments were conducted separately toassess the different chemical priming to enhance the seedqualityofCleome viscosa Linn. genotypes inthree FRBD with three replications viz, seed lots(2022and2021), genotypes (GPPA, GPCH, GPUT and GPTE) and chemical priming either with KNO3 (0.20g/l, 0.50g/l and 1.0 g/l) or CaCl2 (1%, 3% and 4%) or salicylic acid (0.1mM, 0.5mM and 1.0mM). In each experiment the data were recorded for germination percentage, seedling length, fresh weight, dry weight, seedlingvigourindices. The seeds of all genotypes of two lots were found viable. The average germination percentage recorded 24.9% and 32.2% in 2021 and 2022 seed lot respectively. The significantly higher standard germination was recorded at 300C than 260C. The physical seed quality tests viz. test weight, moisture content and bio-chemical testslike electrical conductivity wererecordedsignificantlyhigherin2021than2022seedlot. The other seed quality attributes viz. germination percentage, mean daily germination, seedlingfresh and dry weight and seedling vigour indices under standard germination test and stress test were recorded significantly higher in 2022 seed lot of Cleome viscosa Linn. than 2021 seed lot. GPCH recorded significantly higher seed quality parameters which were statistically at par with GPUT than GPPA. The germination percentage, seedling length, fresh weight, dry weight, seedlingvigourindex-I andII of all genotypes under both the seed lots were improved by chemical priming with 1.0g/l KNO3 or 3% CaCl2 or 1.0 mM of salicylic acid for 24 hours which were found to be effective than standard germination. The GPCH genotype had recorded significantly higher germination parameters which were statistically at par with GPUT than GPPA. Based on the present investigation, the freshly harvested seeds should be preferred to grow Asian spiderflower crop over older seeds. On the basis of seed quality parameters,GPCH and GPUT of 2022 seed lot were found mostsuitable genotypes totake a good crop of Asian spiderflower. The chemical priming of either KNO3 at 1.0g/l or CaCl2at 3% or salicylic acid at 1.0mM for 24hourswas recommendedto improvegermination and vigourof Asian spiderflower (Cleome viscosa Linn.). If farmer had one year old seed, the chemical priming with salicylic acid at 1.0mM for 24hoursshould be recommended for better germination of crop and germination establishment.EnglishThesis