Study on the Stratification and Chemical Treatment of Dormant Seeds of Low Chilling Peach Cultivars1 I. Effect on Seed Germination Shrestha G. K.*, Kaul G. L.** G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, U. P. *Present address: Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science, Kathmandu, Nepal.
**Present address: Assistant Director General, I.C.A.R., New Delhi-110 001
Part of the thesis submitted by senior author for M. Sc (Ag.) degree to G. B. Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Pantnagar (U. P.). Summary Dormant seeds of low-chilling peach cultivars, namely Sharbati Safeda, Hopen and Gujarati were stratified after estraction, for periods ranging from 0 to 30 days at 10°C under controlled condition. One lot of stratified seed was sown directly, while the other was dipped in solutions of GA + thiourea and ethrel for 6 hours before sowing. Stratification for 30 days resulted in highest mean germination, besides reducing time taken for germination. Treatment with GA + thiourea and ethrel 5000 ppm further improved the germination thereby, reducing the Stratification period to 15 days for optimum germination (75 per cent). The three cultivars showed distinct differential response to the treatments tried. Top |