HYDROPHILIC POLYMER SEED COATING ON DROUGHTMITIGATION IN BLACK GRAM VAR. VBN 8 (VIGNA MUNGO L.)V. Vijayalakshmi, S. Sathish and K. SivasubramaniamAbstract An investigation was carried out to standardize the suitable hydrophilic polymer seed coating technique towithstand drought in rainfed Black gramcv. VBN 8. Seven organic hydrophilic polymers namely, Ethylcellulose, Methyl Cellulose, Carboxyl Methyl Cellulose, Agar Agar, Xanthan Gum, Carrageenan and GumArabic were taken and their gel formation and water holding capacities were studied. Among all the polymersXanthan Gum, Carrageenan, Agar Agar, Carboxy methyl cellulose and Gum Arabic showed higher potentialin terms of gel formation and water holding capacity and were used for seed coating studies in threedifferent concentrations (1, 2 and 3%) with two different dosages (20 ml and 40 ml /kg of seeds) andsubjected to germination test under 60 % WHC of sand. Results revealed that seeds coated with 2 %carrageenan @ 40 ml /kg of seeds performed better in terms of all seed quality parameters under waterstress which was on par with 2% Xanthangum@ 40 ml /kg coated seeds. Further the five identified polymerswere tried in combinations. Each polymer were blended with other polymers in the ratio of 1:1 and 3:1 andstudied for their stress avoidance potential under 60 % water holding capacity of sand. The results revealedthat Blackgram seeds coated with 2 % Agar blended Carrageenan in the ratio of 3:1 @ 40 ml / kg performedbetter in terms of seed quality parameters and expressed promising effect in drought mitigation. |