Assessment of Fresh Seed Dormancy in Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) Cultivars

The studies revealed that, among the six varieties RHRG-6021 and SB-XI were found to possesses fresh seed dormancy up to 10 DAPM, variety TPG-41 and RHRG-6083 up to 20 DAPM and variety TAG-24 up tophysiological maturity, whereas variety JL-501 did not possesses fresh seed dormancy. These observations are based on periodical seed germination (%). There was no fresh seed dormancy in the variety JL-501 since it exhibited germination 54.67, 83.33, 95.33 and 95.33% at physiological maturity, 10, 20 and 30 DAPM, respectively. The significantly highest seedling vigour index-I was recorded in genotype SB-XI (1879.05) harvested at M₄ (30 DAPM) followed by genotype JL-501 at M₄ (1751.99). The significantly lowest seedling vigour index-I was observed in combinations V₁M₁, V₂M₁, V₅M₁, V₆M₁, V₅M₂ and (0.00). The significantly highest seedling vigour ^V6^M2 index-II was recorded in genotype TPG-41 (416.47) harvested at M₄ (30 DAPM) followedby genotype SB-XI at M₄ (406.04). The significantly lowest seedling vigour index-II was observed in treatment combinations viz., V₁M₁, V₂M₁, V₅M₁, V₆M₁, V₅M₂ and (0.00). Seedling vigour index-I and II were ^V6^M2 increased after physiological maturity in all six varieties of groundnut. The significantly lowest EC was observed in treatment combination V₃M₃ (0.23mmhos/cm). The significantly highest EC was recorded in genotype TPG-41 (0.53 mmhos/cm) harvested at M₂ (10 DAPM). These studies indicated that, after the physiological maturity fresh seed dormancy breaks down and germination percentage goes on increasing. Harvesting stages did not exhibit any influence on EC values of groundnut seeds. The seeds which record high EC values have been found to be correlated with low germination percentage.