Inhibition of seed germination and seedling vigour by walnut leaf extracts in two varieties of lentil (Lens culinaris Medik)

Inhibition of seed germination and seedling vigour of two lentil (Lens culinaris Medik) varieties (cv. VL 125 and VL 507) recommended for hills under West Himalayan agri-silvi system assessed by Walnut leaf extracts concentrations. Six treatments comprised of distilled water (Control 20%), 40%, 60%, 80% and 100% concentration of leaf extracts were used. The effect of aqueous extract was found inhibitive indicating a direct proportional relationship with concentration dependent manner on seed germination and subsequent seedling vigour parameters. Both varieties exhibited maximum extent of inhibition at 100% extracts application in comparison to other lower concentrations along with untreated control. Invariably there was a decrease in germination at first count and final count, length of root, shoot and seedling, seedling fresh and dry weight, vigour index (I and II) and relative growth index (RGI) with increasing aqueous extracts concentration on germinating lentil. However, the shoot length was observed maximum at 20% concentration for variety VL 125, while fresh weight of cotyledons increased as the concentration increased in both lentil varieties. It was found that seed germination and seedling vigour were influenced negatively by walnut leaf extracts in concentration dependent manner and maximum values were obtained for control and minimum for 100% treatment. Out of two varieties of lentil, VL 125 showed more tolerance than VL 507 against walnut leaf extracts.