Effect of chemical sprays on seed quality parameters of China aster

A field experiment was conducted at Main Research Station, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad during kharif 1999 in randomized block design with three replications to evaluate the effect of chemical sprays (GA₃ @ 200 ppm, MH @ 500 ppm, mepiquat chloride @ 500 ppm, TIBA @ 100 ppm and boron 0.1 % spray) including water spray and control. These chemicals were sprayed twice on aster plants once at 30 days after transplanting and second at ray floret initiation stage. The results of the investigation revealed that GA, 200 ppm followed by boron 0.1%, MH 500 ppm and TIBA 100 ppm increased the seed germination and seedling vigour over control. The per cent increase in germination and seedling vigour respectively due to GA₃ 200 ppm was 6.2 and 27.83% while it was 4.5 and 19.3% due to boron 0.1 % spray over control (87.55% and 388).