Influence of Hydropriming and Growth Regulators on Seed Germination and Seedling Growth of Bitter Gourd (Momordica charantia L)

An experiment was carried on during 2012–13 to find out the appropriate levels of hydration and growth regulators to enhance the germination per cent and seedling growth in bitter gourd. The fresh harvested seed of bitter gourd seed cv. Kalyansona and Kalyanpur Baramasi were treated with plant growth regulatorsviz. GA₃, IAA, NAA IBA and KNO₃ with 50 ppm and 100 ppm concentration of each growth regulators and also subjected to hydration treatment of 6 hrs and 12 hrs. Observations were recorded and analyzed for standard germination, shoot length, root length, total seedling length, seedling dry weight and seedling vigour index. The standard procedure for assessment and study was followed during the experimentation. The result showed significant effect of different level of growth regulators and hydration treatment on seed germination and seedling growth. All the treatment exhibited statistical superiority over control. The 100 ppm treatment showed superiority to 50 ppm treatment for all characters studied. GA₃ 100 ppm recorded highest standard germination (94.44%) and seedling length (22.42 cm) amongst all the treatments.