Effect of Polyethylene glycol, Sorbitol and Absolute Ethanol on Achene Dormancy to Enhance Achene Germination in Sunflower

Abstract

Sunflower is economically important oilseed crop in Pakistan. Ten sunflower genotypes were evaluated with three treatments in laboratory of department of Plant Breeding and Genetic, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, during 2018. Genotypes were sown in Complete Randomized Design as well as factorial structured treatment with two replications. Two achenes for each genotype per replication per treatment were sown in the trays filled with organic soil. One control and three different treatments of polyethylene glycol, sorbitol and ethanol with two concentrations of 0.5% and 1.0 were used to break achene dormancy. After fourteen days germination data was recorded on various traits (leaves area, root length, shoot length, shoot fresh and dry weight and root fresh and dry weight. All treatments were highly significant for all traits except shoot length. T1 (Polyethylene glycol) showed maximum effect
on root length and shoot dry weight and provide maximum values for these traits. T2 (Sorbitol) showed significant effect on leaf area, shoot length, shoot fresh weight, root fresh weight, shoot dry weight and provide maximum values for these traits. While T3 (Ethanol) showed significant effect only on root dry weight.