Abstract

To improve the vigour and viability potential of Pungam (Pongamia pinnata L. Pierre) seeds, specially for clite seeding production in the nursery, the seeds can be enriched with nutrients and growth regulators by presoaking treatments. To standardise these methods, the bulk seeds of pungam, after harvesting, drying, cleaning and grading were fortified with various nutrient solutions for 4h at various concentrations. The results revealed that presoaking of seeds in 2 per cent potassium dihydrogen phosphate. (KH2PO4) solution improved the viability of seeds to 18.6 per cent compared to control. In another experiment, when the seeds were treated with different growth regulators at various concentrations for 4h, recorded maximum germination of 86 per cent both in GA3 200 ppm and water. This showed that instead of going for growth regulator treatment were water soaking gave the improved vigour and viability, which was to the tune of 7.5 per cent over untreated control.

Keywords: Pungam (Pongamia pinnata), seed fortification, vigour, viability