Effect of Pre-Sowing seed treatment with plant growth regulators on germination and growth of Papaya (CArica Papaya L.)

The varieties, treatments and their interaction were found significant with survival and plant spread irrespective of the timings. The maximum seed germination (47.50%), plant spread (11.60 cm) at 30 days and seedling height (7.58 cm and 12.60 cm), number of leaves per plant (6.67 cm and 9.78 cm), stem diameter(0.253 cm and 0.323 cm) at 20 and 30 days respectively were recorded due to the treatment with gibberelic acid (@ 500 ppm). Among interaction seeds of Taiwan variety soaked in gibberelic acid (@ 500 ppm) gave highest germination percentage, seedling height, number of leaves per plant, plant spread and stem diameter while minimum were recorded with Honeydew variety soaked in water.