Pre-sowing seed treatment effect on germination behaviour of rhododendron

The present study was carried out to investigate the effects of growth regulators on germination behaviour of Rhododendron arboreum. Various parameters have been studied for understanding germination behaviour of rhododendron i.e. germination (%), germination capacity (%), germination energy (%), germination speed, germination value and germination index by using standard methodologies after imposing different presowing treatments i.e. T₀-control, T₁-cold water soak (24 h at room temperature), T₂-warm water soak (80°C, allowed to soak in the water as it cools for 12 h), T₃-warm water soak (80°C, allowed to soak in the water as it cools for 24 h), T₄-GA₃ treatment (100 ppm) 3 h, T5-GA3 treatment (100 ppm) 6 h, T6-GA3 treatment (100 ppm) 12 h, T7-GA3 treatment (150 ppm) 3 h, T₈-GA₃ treatment (150 ppm) 6 h, T₉-GA₃ treatment (150 ppm) 12 h, T₁₀-Kinetin (100 ppm) 6 h, T₁₁-Kinetin (150 ppm) 12 h. Results concluded that T₉ (150 ppm GA₃ × 12 hs) was the most effective treatment for improving the germination attributes with maximum germination of 87.33% and germination capacity 88%, germination speed of 4.54, germination value 17.19 and germination index of 4.53.