EFFECT OF GIBBERELLIC ACID, POTASSIUM NITRATE AND CHILLING ON SEED GERMINATION RESPONSE OF APPLE (PYRUS MALUS L. CV. RED DELICIOUS)

Premise of research: Apple (Pyrus malusL.cv.Red delicious) is an important cash crop which aids in socioeconomic development of the farmers in the Uttarakhand state. The delicious and its strains have gained popularity all over the world and are cultivated on a large scale in India. More than 80% of the area is under the delicious group cultivation in India. In Uttarakhand the yield of this crop is getting reduced year after year. This corresponds to many biotic and abiotic factors. One of the main reasons is Global warming. In spite of favourable weather conditions, seeds do not germinate and remain in dormant stage. So, our aim was to investigate the influence of pre-germination treatments on Apple seeds under lab conditions to find out the most promising technique. Methodology:The effect of GA3, KNO3 and stratification to determine the seed germination response for various time duration was observed. Total 10 germination parameters were measured. Pivotal results:The highest GRI, CGRI, GV1, GV2 and GS/day were recorded in seeds treated with 0.1% KNO3 for 48hrs. Lowest MGT and highest CVG were found in combination of (250 ppmGA3+0.1%KNO3) in 24 hrs. Combination of (1000 ppmGA3+0.3%KNO3) treated seeds for 48 hrs showed maximum FGP and MDG value. GSP was highest of all in 0.1% KNO3 treated seeds applied for 48 hrs. Conclusion:Our study clearly depicted that germination percentage can be increased by giving a pre-sowing treatment to seeds with a combination of (1000 ppm GA3+0.3% KNO3) for upto 48 hrs. This is by-far the most effective and simplest method that could be easily adopted by the farmers for improving and enhancing the economic cultivation of this variety. Hence, germination of Apple seeds can be increased by inundating the seeds with GA3 and KNO3 before sowing.