NIM 2008-26

Comparative seed germination behaviour of opium poppy (Papaver

somniferum L.) varieties under two test conditions
Kumar B, Ram G, Singh HP, Misra HO, Lal RK
Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR), Lucknow-226015
The opium poppy (P. somniferum L.) is of immense pharmaceuticals importance kept
apart, its seed are rich source of the fatty oil and protein and also has considerable
importance as culinary item in India. Seed being the basic agricultural input of any crop
and its quality is extremely important from the growers as well as consumers point of
view. As per International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) guidelines seed quality
parameter includes seed weight (test weight), genetic/ cultivar purity and
physical/analytical purity, germination and vigour, moisture content and seed health.
Physical purity, germinability and seed health decides crop stand while genetic purity
governs the maximum yield potential. Seed weight, physical purity and germination
percent decides seed rate for the crop. Only high quality seeds of assured high genetic
and physical purity having high germination and vigour, which are free from weed seeds,
inert matter and seed transmitted pests and diseases are expected to respond optimally to
other inputs like fertilizers, irrigation and plant protection chemicals. Out of which only
germination parameter in five opium poppy varieties viz. Sanchita, Vivek, Sampada,
Sujata and Sweta under two test conditions viz. in-situ (petridish) and ex-situ (soil) were
studied. The present study envisaged the comparative seed germination behaviour of
opium poppy varieties and to determine the days of first and final count of seed
germination in in-situ and only final count in ex-situ condition along with associated
germination parameters following ISTA rules. The data were recorded on germination
percent, germination energy and germination period. The study revealed that under in-
situ 5th day was appropriate for first count and 8th day for final count while 28th day was
suitable for final count under ex-situ test condition. The mean germination percent of five
varieties were ranged from 77.05 (Sweta) to 93.50 (Sanchita) in in-situ condition and
39.00 (Sweta ) to 66.25 (Sanchita) in ex-situ conditions when percentage germination was
counted on 14th day and 28th day, respectively. The germination period was found to be 5th
day in in-situ and 28th day in ex-situ test conditions. In respect to percentage of
germination under two test conditions, the varieties differed significantly among
themselves. The present study revealed that the variety Sanchita had the maximum seed
percentage germination (95.25) followed by Sampada (94.75), Vivek (94.00), Sujata
(87.25) and Sweta (79.50) were recorded in at final count day in in-situ condition while
in ex-situ condition Vivek had maximum (73.00) followed by Sanchita (69.00), Sampada
(57.00), Sujata (49.00) and Sweta (40.00) at final count day. Differential behaviour of
five varieties viz. Sanchita, Vivek, Sampada, Sujata and Sweta and the test conditions i.e.
in-situ and ex-situ in absence of any interacting effect indicates the germination capacity
of these varieties may be due to their genetic make-up.