Effect of bioinoculants and plant growth regulators on germination and seedling growth of wild ber (Ziziphus rotundifolia Lamk.) under in-vitro conditions

The prime motive of this experiment was to investigate the effectiveness of bioinoculants and plant growth regulators (PGRs) in improving the germination rate and seedling growth of wild ber seeds under in-vitro conditions. The experiment was conducted at the Department of SST, CCSHAU, Hisar, India, during the 2021-22 season. The seeds removed from stone were treated with five bioinoculants viz, Azoteeka-Mac 27, Azoteeka-HT 54, Phosphoteeka-P36, Azospirillum-J11-12 and integrated biofertilizer (NPK-1:1:1) by soaking for 30 min and dipped in six-plant growth regulators (PGRs) viz., 50 mg/L gibberellic acid (GA₃), 100 mg/L GA₃, 50 mg/L 1-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA), 100 mg/L NAA, 50 mg/L indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), 100 mg/L IBA for 24 hrs and control. Among different treatments under laboratory conditions, maximum seed viability, maximum germination percentage, maximum vigour indices [vigour index-I, vigour index-II] and the least mean germination time were recorded when seeds were treated with GA₃ @100 mg/L for 24 hrs. Among different bioinoculant treatments, the seed treated with integrated biofertilizer (NPK-1:1:1) for 30 min led to the highest seedling length, maximum seedling fresh weight and maximum seedling dry weight.