Effect of GA3 and growing condition on emergence and seedling growth of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.)

Abstract

Two experiments were conducted in the research field of the Plant Physiology Section, Horticulture Research Centre (HRC), Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) from 05 to 30 December each of 2019 and 2020 to examine the influence of GA3 and find suitable growing conditions for better seed germination of lettuce seeds. The experiment consisted of two levels of GA3 viz. T1 = 0.0 ppm (control) and T2 = 10 ppm, and four growing conditions, G1 = Seeding in polythene bag placed under diffused light; G2 = Seeding in polythene bag placed under bright light, G3 = Seeding in seedbed placed under diffused light and G4 = Seeding in seedbed placed under bright light. Soaking of lettuce seeds in 10 ppm GA3 gave higher seed emergence percent, seedling fresh weight, seedling dry weight, seedling length and seedling dry weight and seedling vigour index than that with control treatment and seed growing condition, G1 treatment recorded the maximum seed emergence percent, seedling length and seedling vigour index. The treatment combination T2 x G1 or T2 x G3 showed the maximum seed emergence percent, seedling length and seedling vigour index. Treatment of lettuce seeds with 10 ppm GA3 and grown under diffused light would be good for growing healthy seedlings.

Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 49(4): 393-408, December 2024