EFFECT OF FUNGICIDE AND PLANT GROWTH HORMONES ON GERMINATION OF TEAK (<em>TECTONA</em> <em>GRANDIS</em>)

Abstract

The effect of fungicide and plant growth hormones on germination of teak (Tectona grandis) seed was studied in a four-factorial experiment (2 x 4 x 7 x 4) . The fungicide, ceresan, at two levels, 0 and 0.4%, four growth hormones, 1-naph thyl acetic  acid  (NAA) ,  indole  acetic acid (IAA) , gibberellic acid (GA,)  and kinetin, with seven concentrations (0, 5, 10, l5, 20, 25 and 30 ppm) and four seed soaking periods (1, 3, 5 and 7 hours) were applied to mechanically extracted seeds from teak fruits before sowing. Presowing seed treatments significantly influenced germination of seeds  after  seven  days. Under fungicide application maximum  seed germination  was recorded  in NAA  at 25 ppm, with 3 hours soaking followed by GA, at 15 ppm, 5 hours  and  IAA  5 ppm,  5 hours. Longer soaking time (7 hours) did not favour seed germination. Relative cost/benefit ratio of hormone application and economics of seed treatment with fungicide and hormones showed that NAA and IAA, 5 ppm with fungicide were the best treatment, recovering the cost of seeds by a factor of 9.83 times over the control due to enhancement of seed germination. This seed treatment is found suitable for raising teak seedlings in root trainer in modern forest nursery.