Effect of Mechanical, Chemical, Growth Hormone and Biofertilizer Treatments on Seed Quality Enhancement in Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera Dunal)

The investigation on effect of mechanical, chemical, growth hormone and biofertilizer treatments on seed quality enhancement in Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera Dunal) was conducted at Department of Seed Science and Technology Laboratory, B. A. College of Agriculture, AAU, Anand during 2017-18. The experiment was laid out in Completely Randomized Design (Factorial) with two varieties, viz., JA 134 and GAA 1. Seeds of both the varieties were treated with different scarification, growth hormones and biofertilizer treatments and their combined effect on germination and other seed quality attributes was studied. The effect of pre-sowing seed treatment with growth hormone GA3 (200 ppm), bio-fertilizer treatment Phosphorous Solubilizing Bacteria and varieties showed significant effect on germination per cent, seedling length and seedling vigour indices of aswagandha. The maximum germination per cent was attained by the GAA 1 compared to JA 134.