Jujhar Singh, Kirandeep Kaur, Anupreet Singh Tiwana, Bhawna Thakur and Parmod N. Kamble
Abstract
The survival rate is a critical determinant for the germination success of small-sized and high-cost seeds. Enhancing these rates is essential for agricultural productivity and economic viability. Various methodologies and treatments, including seed priming, are employed to optimise these parameters, thereby ensuring better growth and yield of crops in diverse agroecological zones. Snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus L.), a notable ornamental crop, encounters significant challenges due to the high cost and diminutive size of its seeds. In response to these issues, an experiment entitled âOptimising Survival Rate, Flowering and Seed Yield in Antirrhinum majus L. Var. Snapshot Burgundy with Seed Primingâ was conducted from October 2022 to May 2023 at the experiment farm of Mata Gujri College, Fatehgarh Sahib, Punjab. The experimental design comprised seven treatments and three replications, utilising a randomised block design to ensure robust statistical analysis. The priming treatments included a control (non-primed), distilled water, GA3 at concentrations of 150 ppm and 250 ppm, KNO3 at concentrations of 0.02M and 0.002M, and Trichoderma viride at 2Ã10^8 cfu/ml. The results indicated that seed priming with KNO3 at a concentration of 0.002M show highest survival rate and also resulted in superior agronomic performance, evidenced by a stem length of 13.47 cm, plant spread of 28.28 cm², and an early flowering period of 82.40 days. Additionally, this treatment produced the highest number of florets (11.30) and the maximum seed yield (39.78 g). These findings suggest that low concentration potassium nitrate is an effective seed priming agent for enhancing the growth and productivity of the Snapshot Burgundy variety of Antirrhinum majus L.