Effect of seed priming with zinc, boron and manganese on seedling health in carrot (DaucuscarotaL.)

ABSTRACT:Poor germination, week seedlings and less plant population are major causes of low carrot yield. Micronutrients play an important role in germination and seedling establishment. Three micronutrients i.e. zinc, manganese and boron were used to study the effect of seed priming on germination and seedling establishment in carrot. A triplicated randomized complete block experiment was designed with 11 treatments viz. Zn (1%, 1.5% and 2%), Mn (1%, 1.5% and 2%), B (1%, 1.5% and 2%), water soaked and untreated/dried (control). Significant differences were observed among treatments for emergence percentage and other seedling traits observed. Seed priming with boron solution inhibited the germination. Highest emergence percentage, rate of emergence, vigor index, hundred seedling weight were observed in case of seed priming with Zn (1.5%) solution. Mn (1.5%) and Mn (2%) solution showed highest mean shoot length and root length respectively.