Seed-priming techniques in sesame (Sesamum indicum)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during the rainy season of 1994, 1995 and 1997 on loamy sand soil at Bawal. to study the effect of seed-priming techniques on germination, growth, yield attributes and seed yield of 'HT 1' strain of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.). On an average, soaking of sesame seed in water for 3 hr and 2 % H₂SO4 solution for 90 sec followed by shade drying before sowing enhanced germination by23.2 and 21.6 %; and seed yieldlha by 35.4 and 32.1 %, respectively, over the control. These treatments also recorded better growth attributes, viz root (4.8 and 4.6 g), shoot (25.2 and 24.6 g), dry weight and length (16.6 and 16.1, and 74.1 and 73.7 cm) 50 days after sowing, and yield attributes, viz capsules/plant (52.8 and 51.6), seeds/capsule (26.4 and 25.9), 1000-seed weight (2.11 and 2.09 g), seed yield/plant (2.86 and 2.79 g) and seed yield (0.455 and 0.444 tonne/ha), at harvest compared with rest of the treatments.