GUPTA, Y.C.BHARGAVA, BHAVYA2016-06-172016-06-172013http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/67541ABSTRACT “Effect of seed priming on growth and flowering of Antirrhinum majus L.” were carried out at the experimental farm of the Department of Floriculture and Landscaping, Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan during 2010 and 2011 on two selections, UHFSA-9 and UHFSA-13. The healthy, disease free, bold and uniform seeds of Antirrhinum majus L. were used in the present study. The required priming agents GA3 (100, 200 ppm), KNO3 (0.01, 0.001 M), KH2PO4 (0.01, 0.001 M), Trichoderma harzianum (1 x 105 cfu/ ml) and Bacillus subtilis (1 x 105 cfu/ ml) selected for various seed priming treatments were obtained from the departmental laboratory and accordingly the desired concentrations were prepared. After completion of seed priming treatments, primed seeds were sown in the nursery trays containing fine mixture comprising sand, soil and well rotten farm yard manure (FYM) in the ratio of 2:1:1, v/v. The treatments in nursery beds were arranged in completely randomized design (factorial) having ten treatments with three replications each containing 100 seeds. One week before planting farm yard manure full doses of P and K and half dose of N were incorporated into the beds. The remaining half dose of nitrogen applied after 30 days of planting. The experiment was laid out in RBD (factorial) with 10 seed priming treatments, replicated thrice under two growing conditions i.e. open ventilated polyhouse and open condition. Findings revealed that maximum per cent germination (71.17, 75.67), minimum days taken to 50% germination (10.94, 10.58), maximum number of leaves (8.75, 8.75), shoot length (6.14, 6.16 cm) and root length (2.66, 2.74 cm) were recorded with the priming treatment Trichoderma harzianum (1 x 105 cfu/ ml) i.e. T9 in both selections UHFSA- 9 and UHFSA-13, respectively. In polyhouse conditions, maximum plant height (70.46, 81.42 cm), plant spread (40.25, 42.84 cm), number of spikes (11.75, 12.29), spike length (60.79, 63.44 cm), early bud formation (93.83, 90.79 days), early flowering (117.42, 116.00 days), maximum number of florets open at a time (16.21, 19.71), total number of florets per spike (19.25, 23.96), duration of flowering (42.83, 46.29 days), fresh weight of spike (19.29, 23.92 g), vase life (6.04, 6.17 days), number of pods per spike (15.79, 20.08), number of pods with seeds per spike (13.83, 16.13), weight of seeds per spike (0.48, 0.48 g), number of seeds per pod (303.50, 321.25), test weight of seeds (154.58, 165.58 mg) and seed yield per plant (3.51, 3.84 g) were recorded with the treatment Trichoderma harzianum (1 x 105 cfu/ ml) i.e. T9 in both selections UHFSA-9 and UHFSA-13, respectively. In open conditions, maximum plant height (57.88, 65.67 cm), plant spread (38.15, 40.15 cm), number of spikes (9.63, 10.58), spike length (46.29, 55.83 cm), early bud formation (108.25, 103.92 days), early flowering (127.79, 123.29 days) more number of florets open at a time (12.96, 14.13), total number of florets per spike (15.95, 17.89), more duration of flowering (29.75, 30.00 days), fresh weight of spike (16.64, 18.44 g) and vase life (5.79, 6.08 days), maximum number of pods per spike (14.76, 17.22), number of pods with seeds per spike (13.92, 14.25), weight of seeds per spike (0.29, 0.38 g), number of seeds per pod (305.96, 310.63), test weight of seeds (149.92, 157.75 mg) and seed yield per plant (2.89, 3.84 g) were recorded with the treatment Trichoderma harzianum (1 x 105 cfu/ ml) i.e. T9 in both selections UHFSA-9 and UHFSA-13, respectively.enclay, clay minerals, land resources, soil sciences, carbon, minerals, humus, irrigation, spacing, sandAntirrhinum majus L. , growth and floweringThesis