Influence of Pre-sowing Treatments, Sowing Positions and Age of Stones after Extraction from Fruit on Germination and Vigour of Mango

Abstract

Background: Mango stones are in general recalcitrant. Moreover, they are available only during April– May months which are the drier parts of the year. So stone germination and plant vigour are very low. Proper seed orientation, age of stones after extraction from fruit and pre-sowing treatments need to be taken into consideration for inducing early germination, boosting growth, enhancing the seedling vigour and reducing the mortality. Methods: The experiment was laid out in factorial completely randomized design with forty two treatment combinations replicated thrice. The treatments were comprised of two sowing positions viz., flat and stalk end up, three age of stones after extraction from fruit, viz., fresh extracted, 10 days and 20 days after extraction and seven pre-sowing treatments viz., 100 ppm GA3, 200 ppm GA3, 1 ppm KNO3, 2 ppm KNO3, cow dung slurry, water, control and their combinations. Result: Stalk end up sowing of freshly extracted stones pre-treated with 200 ppm GA3 for 24 hours recorded better germination and vigour of mango seedlings.