Int. J. Adv. Res. Biol. Sci. (2016). 3(6): 113-122 International Journal of Advanced Research in Biological Sciences ISSN: 2348-8069 www.ijarbs.com Volume 3, Issue 6 - 2016 Research Article SOI: http://s-o-i.org/1.15/ijarbs-2016-3-6-15 Influence of seed treatment and priming on growth performance of Eryngium foetidum S. N. Mozumder1 M. M. Hossain2 and S. Akter3. 1Senior Scientific Officer, 3Chief Scientific Officer, Regional Spices Research Center Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Gazipur - 1701. Bangladesh 2Professor, Department of Horticulture, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University Gazipur-1706. Bangladesh Corresponding Address: Dr. Shailendra Nath Mozumder Senior Scientific Officer, Regional Spices Research Center, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Gazipur - 1701. Bangladesh E-mail: [email protected] Abstract Growth performance of Eryngium foetidum L. with different seed treatment and priming duration was studied at the field laboratory of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University during July 2010 to June 2011. Treatment of seeds with growth regulator and soaking and drying of seeds enhanced seed germination in the field and laboratory. Consecutive 96 hours soaking and drying (8 hours soaking and 4 hours drying) of Eryngium seeds treated with GA3 500 ppm and Kinetin 50 ppm gave the maximum germination (57.61%) and enhanced germination (13.0 days). Chemicals (Tetracycline plus copper oxi- chloride had no significant effect on germination. Consecutive 72 to 96 hours soaking with growth regulator treatment showed better performance in the field and gave maximum biomass (39.4 t/ha). The untreated or pesticide treated seeds showed poor germination and growth performance. Keywords: Eryngium foetidum, growth, priming, seed treatment. Introduction Eryngium foetidum L. is a high valued promising increasing due to its higher aromatic, nutritive and Horticultural crops belongs to the family Apiaceae medicinal value. In Bangladesh, it is a major cash crop which includes other culinary herb viz. parsley in the eastern hilly areas and cultivation expanding (Petroselinum crispum), celery (Apium graveolens) other parts of the country. Farmers are very much and parsnip (Pastinaca sativa). It is originated from interested to cultivate this crop as it gives a very high tropical America, West Indies, Vietnam, Asam and return ignoring the germination problem of Eryngium Bangladesh (Nienga, 1995, Rashid, 1999, Rubatzky et seeds. Low germination rate (6-10%) and un-uniform al., 1999). It is known as many as 73 names in seed germinations as well as unavailability of adequate different countries such as Eryngium, Eringo, amounts of seeds also limit the cultivation of Bangladhonia, Bilatidhonia, Bandhonia, Long Eryngium. Higher seed rate (40 kg/ha) of Eryngium coriander, Spiny coriander, Mexican coriander, False (E. foetidum) negatively affects the cost of cultivation coriander, Culantro, Cilantro, Shadobeni, Feetweed (Moniruzzaman et al., 2002). To increase the etc. (Sankat and Maharaj, 1996). Worldwide germination, combined application of GA3 (1000 ppm) cultivation and consumption of this crop is rapidly and Kinetin (50 ppm) proved effective for enhancing 113 Int. J. Adv. Res. Biol. Sci. (2016). 3(6): 113-122 seed germination up to 28.54% (Mozumder, 2009). cultivation. Therefore, the experiment was conducted Increased seed germination may be increased farmers to increase the germination rate for better germination, profitability reducing cost of production with lower growth and biomass production to increase farmer’s seed rate. Moreover, more area can be cultivated with profitability decreasing the production (seed) cost in a limited amount of seed. Previously developed Eryngium foetidum cultivation. technology is not sufficient to increased seed germination near 100% inhibiting the negative effect Methodology of the germination by a chemical ‘Coumarin’ presents in Eryngium seeds (Ekpong, et al., 2008). Researchers The experiment was conducted at Horticulture Field are required for complete removal of ‘Coumarin’ and Laboratory of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman increased germination percentage as well as Agricultural University, Gazipur, Bangladesh during identifying proper priming duration. Some seeds may July 2010 to June 2011. The experiments comprised not germinate due to pre germination fungus with two different factors such as growth regulator infestation. Seed treatment with appropriate fungicide treatment and soaking duration. Eighteen treatment might be helpful in preventing the germination failure. combinations of two factors viz. three seed treatment The present experiment was designed with an comprising growth regulator (GA3 500ppm + Kinetin emphasis to increase germination with application of 50 ppm), pesticide (copper oxi-chloride 0.2% + growth regulators (GA3 and Kinetin) and pesticide tetracycline 1000 ppm) and control (distilled water) with seed soaking and drying lowering the coumarin with six soaking levels viz. 0, 12, 24, 48, 72 and 96 level, increased α-amylase activities in seeds and to hours soaking with 8 hours consecutive soaking and 4 decrease seed rate to maintain an acceptable yield hours drying was used in the experiments. potentiality which will be cost effective in Erygium The 18 treatment combinations consisting of Factor A (Seed treatment) and B (Soaking duration) are : Treatment combinations Factor A: Seed treatment (C) Factor B: Soaking duration (D) C1D1 : Distilled water Control (No soaking) C1D2 : Distilled water 12 hours C1D3 : Distilled water 24 hours C1D4 : Distilled water 48 hours C1D5 : Distilled water 72 hours C1D6 : Distilled water 96 hours C2D1 : Growth regulator Control C2D2 : Growth regulator 12 hours C2D3 : Growth regulator 24 hours C2D4 : Growth regulator 48 hours C2D5 : Growth regulator 72 hours C2D6 : Growth regulator 96 hours C3D1 : Pesticide Control C3D2 : Pesticide 12 hours C3D3 : Pesticide 24 hours C3D4 : Pesticide 48 hours C3D5 : Pesticide 72 hours C3D6 : Pesticide 96 hours The experiment was laid out in a split plot design (Islam et al., 2003). Seeds were finally soaked with assigning seed treatment in the main plot and soaking different growth regulator solutions for one hour duration in the sub plot with three replications. The before sowing then dried in shade on newsprint paper unit plot size was 3×1m and total sub-plots were 54. for one hour to remove extra solution before sowing. The adjacent plots and neighboring blocks were Seeds of Eryngium was sown in January 27, 2011 by separated by 0.5 m and 1.0 m wide drain, respectively. broadcasting and mixed with soil at 0.1-1.0cm depth. The experimental land was fertilized with decomposed Bamboo with black mosquito net (2mm loop) covered cowdung @ 15 t/ha, 200 kg-N, 120 kg-P and 150 kg K light shade was be made to discard about 40-50% 114 Int. J. Adv. Res. Biol. Sci. (2016). 3(6): 113-122 sunlight to ensure lengthy and succulent leaves Results and Discussion (Moniruzzaman, 2002). Weeding, irrigation and other cultural practices were done timely. Harvesting was Effect of chemical treatments done from the first week of May to third week of June with an interval of 20 days when the leaves became All the characters studied for the effect of chemical most succulent. Data on days to germination, number treatments on seed germination and performance of of seedlings, plant height, leaves per plant, leaf size, Eryngium were significant except root length, number plant weight, harvested plants/m2 total biomass were of leaves/plant and leaf size. properly counted recorded. The fresh weight was counted from only the fresh harvested plants after Days to seed germination removal of soil and other debris. Per hectare biomass was calculated considering area of plots and drains. Plant growth regulator showed better performance in Plant dry weight were taken by drying 10 plants in respect to seed germination (Table 1.a). Early oven at 720C for 72 hours and the average dry matter germination (16.1 days after sowing = DAS) was % was calculated. All the data were compiled properly found with growth regulator (GR = GA3 500ppm + and analyzed statistically by MS Excel, MSTAT-C Kinetin 50ppm) treatment while control and pesticide Program and mean separation was done following the treated plots took longer time (19.4 and 19.1 days, Duncan's Multiple Range Test (Zaman, et al. 1987). respectively). The application of growth regulator enhances the germination of Eryngium seeds is supported by the reports of Dutt et al. (2001) that increased seed germination in GA3 treatment. Table 1.a Effect of chemicals on germination of Eryngium seeds Chemical Days to first Seedlings/m2 Germination (%) % GP Harvested Harveste treatment germination 30 60 DAS 30 60 increase plants/m2 d plants (C) DAS DAS DAS (%) Control 19.4a 408.2b 639.9b 16.46b 25.80b 0.00c 550.4c 88.74a PGR 16.1b 681.6a 1057.0a 27.46a 42.62a 16.42a 813.8a 79.50b Pesticide 19.1a 454.1b 746.4b 18.31b 30.10b 4.30b 638.9b 87.09a Significance ** ** ** ** ** * ** ** CV% 5.15 7.75 7.88 7.75 7.88 10.52 8.12 3.23 Chemicals: PGR = Plant growth regulator (GA3 500 ppm +Kinetin 50 ppm); Pesticide (Copper oxy-chloride +Tetracycline) Means followed by same letter or without letter in a column are not differed significantly at 5% level. * and ** indicated the level of significance at 5% and 1% level, respectively. Seedlings/m2 Germination percentage Significantly higher number of seedlings was obtained The germination percentage was higher in growth at both four and eight weeks after sowing in the regulator treated plots. The maximum germination growth regulator treated plots. The maximum number percentage was 27.46 and 42.62 at 4 and 8 weeks after of seedlings at 4 weeks 682/m2 and 8 weeks 1057/m2 sowing, respectively, were obtained from the seeds were counted with growth regulators treated plots. treated with mixed solution of GA3 500 ppm + Kinetin Lower number of seedlings was obtained from the 50 ppm. Both control and pesticides treated plots gave control (408 and 640 seedlings/m2 at 4 and 8 weeks) in significantly lower germination rate.