Hydration-dehydration treatments for the maintenance of germinability and better seedling emergence of fresh and old Basil (Ocimum sanctumL.) seed

ABSTRACT

Hydration-dehydration treatments in two months (medium vigour) and seven months (medium to low vigour) old basil(Ocimumsnactum L.) seedswere given for the improvement of storability and field emergenceafter subsequent storage. Hydration-dehydration treatments were given with distilled water and different solutions (ascorbic acid - 100ppm & 250 ppm, KNO3- 100ppm & 250 ppm, Acetyl salicylic acid – 100ppm & 250 ppm and para-Amino benzoic acid (PABA) – 100 ppm & 250 ppm). Few treatments were significantlyeffective over control for the maintenance of seed germinability and field emergence. Particularly basil seed hydration – dehydration with ascorbic acid - 100ppm,KNO3- 250 ppm and acetyl salicylic acid - 100ppm solutions showed very effective results for the maintenance of vigour and viability of basil seed.