Effect of seed priming with plant defence activators on growth parameters and disease incidence in bell pepper under nursery conditions Padiyal Arushi*, Bharat Narender K, Dilta BS, Sharma Rajender, Thalyari Jeenia Department of Seed Science and Technology, College of Horticulture, Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan173230Himachal Pradesh, India *Email for correspondence: aru.padiyal@gmail.com
Online Published on 20 December, 2022. Abstract The effect of different plant defence activators on the seedling growth and disease incidence in bell pepper cv Solan Bharpur was studied under nursery conditions in the Department of Seed Science and Technology Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, Himachal Pradesh laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) in 2019. It was observed that amongst different treatments applied as seed priming before sowing in nursery, highest emergence of 86.34, 83.25 and 82.41 per cent was recorded in treatments T5 (Salicylic acid @ 75 ppm + potassium nitrate @ 1.5% for 8 hours), T7 (Butyric acid @ 100 ppm + potassium nitrate @ 1.5%) and T4 (Potassium nitrate @ 1.5%/10 hours) respectively. At 28 and 42 days after sowing, the seedling height was significantly highest (4.62 and 12.21 cm respectively) in treatment T5. Minimum ungerminated seeds were observed in T5 (13.66%) and T7 (16.75%). Lowest incidence of damping off (5.43%) was recorded in T7. In case of viruses, the minimum incidence of 2.90 and 3.05 per cent was recorded in the seedlings raised from the seeds treated with T7 and T5 respectively. Application of salicylic acid @ 75 ppm + potassium nitrate @ 1.5 per cent for 8 hours or butyric acid @ 100 ppm + potassium nitrate @ 1.5 per cent for 4 hours as seed priming before sowing in nursery, enhanced the seedling growth parameters significantly and also reduced the incidence of diseases like damping off and viruses in bell pepper cv Solan Bharpur under nursery conditions. Top Keywords Defence activators, Seed priming, Seedling, Parameters, Disease incidence. Top |