Seed Priming and Media for Enhanced Seedling Growth in Pansy (Viola tricolor)

Abstract

The alarming increase of temperature in Northern areas of India makes it difficult to grow seeds due to these temperature fluctuations. Since Punjab is the hub of annual flower seed production it becomes imperative to identify suitable seed primming and growing media for proper growth and germination of seedlings of annual flower crops. Hence this investigation was conducted in PAU, Ludhiana to evaluate different pre sowing seed treatment and growing media in pansy seeds for better growth and development of seedlings. The maximum shoot length (5.75cm), root length (5.38 cm), number of leaves per plant (8.00), fresh weight (14.04g), dry weight (1.42 g) and SPAD index (34.43) was recorded through synergistic effect of GA3 @ 25 ppm + soil: cocopeat: vermicompost (1:1:1) in pansy. Therefore, it was concluded from the study that treatment combination of GA3 @ 25 ppm + soil: cocopeat: vermicompost (1:1:1) was found to be the best for almost all parameters as compared to the other treatments.

Full text

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*Corresponding author: Email: aarushi.garg04@gmail.com;
Asian J. Soil Sci. Plant Nutri., vol. 10, no. 2, pp. 261-268, 2024
Asian Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition
Volume 10, Issue 2, Page 261-268, 2024; Article no.AJSSPN.115945
ISSN: 2456-9682
Seed Priming and Media for Enhanced
Seedling Growth in Pansy
(Viola tricolor)
Tanya Thakur a and Arushi Garg a*
a Department of Floriculture and Landscaping Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana,
Pin code- 141004, India.
Authors’ contributions
This work was carried out in collaboration between both authors. Both authors read and approved the
final manuscript.
Article Information
DOI: 10.9734/AJSSPN/2024/v10i2283
Open Peer Review History:
This journal follows the Advanced Open Peer Review policy. Identity of the Reviewers, Editor(s) and additional Reviewers, peer
review comments, different versions of the manuscript, comments of the editors, etc are available here:
https://www.sdiarticle5.com/review-history/115945
Received: 21/02/2024
Accepted: 24/04/2024
Published: 27/04/2024
ABSTRACT
The alarming increase of temperature in Northern areas of India makes it difficult to grow seeds
due to these temperature fluctuations. Since Punjab is the hub of annual flower seed production it
becomes imperative to identify suitable seed primming and growing media for proper growth and
germination of seedlings of annual flower crops. Hence this investigation was conducted in PAU,
Ludhiana to evaluate different pre sowing seed treatment and growing media in pansy seeds for
better growth and development of seedlings. The maximum shoot length (5.75cm), root length
(5.38 cm), number of leaves per plant (8.00), fresh weight (14.04g), dry weight (1.42 g) and SPAD
index (34.43) was recorded through synergistic effect of GA3 @ 25 ppm + soil: cocopeat:
vermicompost (1:1:1) in pansy. Therefore, it was concluded from the study that treatment
combination of GA3 @ 25 ppm + soil: cocopeat: vermicompost (1:1:1) was found to be the best for
almost all parameters as compared to the other treatments.
Keywords: Viola tricolor; pansy; growing media; seed treatment; cocopeat; GA; thiourea; SPAD index.
Short Research Article

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262
1. INTRODUCTION
Pansy (Viola tricolor) considered as most vibrant
and commonly grown winter annual. It belongs to
the family Violaceae and is native of cooler parts
of Europe [1]. It is commonly called as ‘the flower
of all seasons’ and is cultivated as bedded and
pot plant [2]. The name “pansy” originated from
French word “pensee” meaning “thought” and
evolved to denote love thoughts. The flower is 5
to 8 cm in diameter and has two slightly
overlapping upper petals, two side petals and a
single bottom petal with a slight beard emanating
from the flower's centre. A huge increase in the
demand for pansy has been noticed in
the recent years mainly in window boxes,
gardens, pot plants, dye industry and for culinary
purpose etc.
The most specific problems concerned with
pansy cultivation is that the seeds are difficult to
germinate and there is lack of suitable media.
This problem produces unbalanced seedling
growth and further affects the performance of
plants in terms of growth, branching, less flower
and seed yield [3]. There is a large difference
between the seeds sown and availability of
healthy seedlings as germination goes below
40% and available seedlings for planting are only
30-40% [4].This cause monetary losses to the
growers because of costly pansy seeds
especially F1 hybrids. Hence, there is an urgent
need to use some techniques for improving
production of healthy seedlings of pansy.
One such method of improving the seedling
quality is giving pre-sowing controlled seed
treatment (Priming) i.e. hydration followed by re-
drying in controlled conditions. It improves seed
germination percentage, rate, time and quality of
seedlings especially under adverse conditions[5].
The nursery media also plays a significant role
for seedling growth and affects the quality of
seedlings [2]. Different rooting media such as
vermicompost, cocopeat can be used to grow
pansy seedlings while maintaining the chemical
and physical properties of medium like pH,
texture, structure as well as N, P, K are dominant
factors for development and growth of plant [6].
The germination percentage can be maximized
up to 80 to 85% by using the best technologies.
This tool can be successfully used in annual
flower seeds to eradicate the problem of poor
seedling growth which will ensure larger benefits
to the growers and consequently quality of
seedlings will be better.
The use of seed treatment techniques and
growing media compositions will be very
economical for the seed companies in terms of
high returns as a result of improved germination
values and production of better seedlings. Thus,
realizing the importance of pansy at commercial
level, there is need to investigate the effect of
seed priming and media to improve the seedling
growth for production of healthy seedlings.
2. MATERIALS AND METHODS
The present investigation was carried out during
the year 2020-21 at Research Farm of
Department of Floriculture and Landscaping,
Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab.
The seeds were given pre sowing treatment for
24 hours with control/water (T1), Thiourea @ 50
ppm (T2), KNO3 @ 0.1% (T3), KNO3 @ 0.2% (T4),
GA3 @ 25 ppm (T5), GA3 @ 50 ppm (T6) and GA3
@ 75 ppm (T7) and sown in plug trays in October
as per different media compositions i.e. soil: FYM
(1:1; M1), soil: sand: vermicompost (1:1:1; M2),
soil: sand: FYM (1:1:1; M3), soil: sand: leaf
manure (1:1:1; M4), soil: cocopeat: vermicompost
(1:1:1; M5) and soil: leaf manure (1:1; M6). A total
of 30 seeds per treatment per replication were
sown out of which 5-10 healthy seedlings were
taken for observations. The experiment was laid
out in factorial CRD design with three replications
per treatment. The data on various seedling
growth parameters were recorded and analysed
using SAS software and treatment means were
compared using DMRT (Duncan Multiple Range
Test) at 5% level of significance [7]. Chlorophyll
content was measured by using SPAD index
meter in the mid of a clear day. Random healthy
seedlings were taken 45 DAS in pansy for
measuring fresh weight and wrapped in the
butter paper for drying in a microwave oven for
48 hours at 65℃. Then seedlings were removed
and allowed to cool before weighing in an
electronic balance. After weighing average was
worked out and dry weight was calculated of
seedlings. The nitrogen in media sample was
measured by Kjeldahl’s method [8]. Available
phosphorus (mg/kg of media sample) was
measured after shaking the media with extractant
and filtering the suspension through Olsen
method on spectrophotometer at wavelength of
760 µm [9]. Available potassium (mg/kg of media
sample) was measured after digestion of mixture
of media and filtering the suspension for
recording value on the flame photometer at 420
µm [10]. The data was calculated by using
formulas given below-

Thakur and Garg; Asian J. Soil Sci. Plant Nutri., vol. 10, no. 2, pp. 261-268, 2024; Article no.AJSSPN.115945
263
1. Moisture content (%): The moisture
content of seedlings was calculated by
using following formula:
Moisture content % = Fresh weight−Dry weight
Fresh weight × 100
2. Dry matter (%): Dry matter percentage
was calculated by subtracting the moisture
content from 100%.
Dry matter % = 100% - Moisture content
3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The effect of pre-sowing seed treatment and
media on seedling growth parameters of pansy
i.e. shoot length, number of leaves per seedling,
SPAD index, root length, root: shoot ratio, fresh
weight of seedlings, dry weight of seedlings,
moisture content percentage and dry matter
percentage was recorded to be significant
(p<0.05) (Table 1 and 2).
Among pre sowing seed treatments, the seeds of
pansy treated with GA3 @ 25 ppm recorded
maximum shoot length (5.00cm), number of
leaves (7.28), SPAD index (33.08), root length
(4.79 cm), fresh weight (12.94g) and dry weight
(1.31 g). The highest dry matter percentage was
recorded in KNO3 @ 0.2% (10.41%) and found to
be significantly different from other treatments. In
case of moisture content percentage was
significantly recorded in Thiourea @ 50 ppm
(90.05%) followed by GA3 @ 25 ppm (89.87%)
which were at par.
Among media treatments minimum shoot length
(5.04cm), number of leaves (7.24), SPAD index
(33.53), root length (4.96cm), fresh weight
(12.33g), dry weight (1.24g) and moisture
content percentage (89.95%) was recorded
under soil: cocopeat: vermicompost (1:1:1) in
pansy. The equal ratio of soil: sand:
vermicompost (10.33%) reported significantly
highest dry matter percentage, whereas lowest
percentage was observed in equal ratio of soil:
cocopeat: vermicompost (10.05%).
Among seed treatment x media interaction,
maximum shoot length (5.75cm), number of
leaves (8.00), SPAD index (34.43), root length
(5.38 cm), fresh weight (14.04g) and dry weight
(1.42 g) was recorded in GA3 @ 25 ppm + soil:
cocopeat: vermicompost (1:1:1) in pansy. Among
seed treatment x media interaction, KNO3 @
0.2% + equal proportion of soil: sand: leaf
manure (11.09%) recorded significantly highest
dry matter percentage. The maximum significant
moisture content percentage (90.23%) was
observed in GA3 @ 50 ppm + soil: sand: leaf
manure (1:1:1) followed by KNO3 @ 0.2% + soil:
leaf manure (1:1) and KNO3 @ 0.1% + soil:
cocopeat: vermicompost (1:1:1) which were at
par.
In this study pre-sowing treatment with gibberellic
acid especially GA3 @ 25 ppm significantly
enhanced subsequent seedling growth in pansy
viz. shoot and root length, number of leaves per
seedling, fresh and dry weight of seedlings and
SPAD index in pansy. This may be due to the
positive effects of GA3 in enhancement of cell
division and enlargement in cambium tissue [11].
Similar results were reported in annual
chrysanthemum by Thakur et al. [12] and in
marigold by Kumar et al. [13]. The higher fresh
and dry weight in GA3 treatments is chiefly
because of increased mobilization of water,
membrane permeability, nutrient uptake and
transport which leads to higher production of
photosynthesis products [11,14] GA3 increases
Ca2+ ion in the leaf cells which helps to keep
water balance and maintain high RWC of leaf
[15]. This accelerates root and shoot length, fresh
and dry weight and increases leaf water content
as earlier reported by Shahzad et al. [16]. GA3
and thiourea both increased significantly moisture
content as it is well known that both enter the
seeds same as water and help in inducing the
relative water content which helps in breaking
dormancy, stimulating rooting and inducing
growth of seedlings [17]. GA3 also increases the
somatic absorption of nutrients, which leads to
cell elongation and thus increases the
main root length and the number of secondary
roots.
The medium with vermicompost and cocopeat is
more suitable because of better physical
properties and enhanced nutrient level, provides
a better growth medium for plant establishment
[18,13]. This treatment combination due to
proper aeration in the root zone of the seedling
produces better quality seedlings. The improved
seedling growth observed in media containing
soil, cocopeat and vermicompost (1:1:1) can also
be attributed to several factors such as optimal
highest water holding capacity (220.10%), total
porosity (80%), ideal total nitrogen percentage
(0.12%), available phosphorus percentage
(0.61%) and available potassium percentage
(1.95%) facilitating superior performance across
all traits (Fig. 1).

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264
Table 1. Individual effect of seed priming and growing media on seedling growth traits in pansy (Viola tricolor)
Treatments
Shoot
length
(cm)
No. of
leaves
per plant
SPAD
index
Root
length
(cm)
Root:
shoot
ratio
Fresh
weight
(g)
Dry
weight
(g)
Moisture
content
(%)
Dry matter
(%)
T1 (Water or control)
4.17 F
5.67 D
31.55 E
4.22 E
0.99 C
8.33 F
0.86 E
89.67 BC
10.32 AB
T2 (Thiourea @ 50 ppm)
4.47 E
5.95 CD
31.61 E
4.40 D
1.02 B
8.54 E
0.85 E
90.05 A
9.99 C
T3 (KNO3 @ 0.1%)
4.52 D
6.06 B
32.30 D
4.44 CD
1.02 B
12.74 D
1.14 D
89.74 BC
10.27 AB
T4 (KNO3 @ 0.2%)
4.65 C
6.72 B
32.52 C
4.53 BC
1.03 AB
11.50 C
1.20 C
89.59 C
10.41 A
T5 (GA3 @ 25 ppm)
5.00 A
7.28 A
33.08 A
4.79 A
1.04 A
12.94 A
1.31 A
89.87 A
10.13 BC
T6 (GA3 @ 50ppm)
4.84 B
7.22 A
32.80 B
4.69 A
1.04 AB
12.80 A
1.29 AB
89.89 AB
10.10 BC
T7 (GA3 @ 75ppm)
4.61 C
6.67 B
32.20 D
4.55 B
1.01 B
12.43 B
1.27 B
89.75 AB
10.25 AB
Media
M1: Soil: FYM (1:1)
4.33 E
5.86 C
31.23 F
4.30 D
1.01 B
10.43 D
1.07 D
89.74 AB
1.07 D
M2= Soil: sand: vermicompost (1:1:1)
4.54 C
6.33 B
31.73 E
4.41 C
1.03 AB
11.12 C
1.15 C
89.67 B
1.15 C
M3= Soil: sand: FYM (1:1:1)
4.45 D
6.29 B
31.96 D
4.42 C
1.01 B
10.56 D
1.08 D
89.81 AB
1.08 D
M4= Soil: sand: leaf manure (1:1:1)
4.45 D
6.38 B
32.31 C
4.37 CD
1.02 B
10.42 D
1.07 D
89.74 AB
1.07 D
M5= Soil: cocopeat: vermicompost (1:1:1)
5.04 A
7.24 A
33.53 A
4.96 A
1.02 B
12.33 A
1.24 A
89.95 A
1.24 A
M6= Soil: leaf manure (1:1)
4.85 B
6.95 A
32.99 B
4.64 B
1.04 A
11.73 B
1.19 B
89.84 AB
1.19 B
*In a column, means followed by same letters do not differ significantly at the 5% level by Duncan's Multiple Range Test.

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265
Table 2. Combined effect of seed priming and media on seedling growth traits in pansy (Viola tricolor)
Media and
seed priming
treatments
Shoot
length (cm)
No. of
leaves per
plant
SPAD
index
Root length
(cm)
Root:
shoot ratio
Fresh
weight (g)
Dry weight (g)
Moisture
content (%)
Dry
matter
(%)
T1M1
3.98 r
4.33 f
30.00 p
4.08 h
0.98 b
7.95 t
0.85 m
89.27 ab(70.88)
0.85 m
T1M2
4.07 r
5.67 f
30.17 p
4.07 h
1.00 ab
8.21 t
0.89 m
89.15 ab(70.77)
0.89 m
T1M3
4.15 r
5.67 f
31.97 m
4.33 h
0.96 b
7.82 t
0.78 m
89.99 ab(71.55)
0.78 m
T1M4
4.14 r
5.33 f
32.10 l
4.11 h
1.01 ab
7.69 t
0.79 m
89.77 ab(71.43)
0.79 m
T1M5
4.37 o
6.67 e
32.93 i
4.43 h
0.99 ab
9.32 q
0.94 l
89.95 ab(71.52)
0.94 l
T1M6
4.30 p
6.33 e
32.17 l
4.28 h
1.01 ab
8.97 r
0.90 m
89.93 ab(71.50)
0.90 m
T2 M1
4.14 r
5.00 f
30.30 p
4.06 h
1.02 ab
7.90 t
0.79 m
90.01 ab(71.57)
0.79 m
T2M2
4.55 m
6.00 f
30.57 p
4.43 h
1.03 ab
8.59 s
0.86 m
89.99 ab(71.56)
0.86 m
T2M3
4.47 o
5.67 f
31.50 n
4.33 h
1.03 ab
7.93 t
0.79 m
90.03 ab(71.60)
0.79 m
T2M4
4.37 o
6.00 f
32.13 l
4.31 h
1.01 ab
7.89 t
0.78 m
90.08 a(71.64)
0.78 m
T2M5
4.70 i
6.67 e
32.73 j
4.75 e
0.99 ab
9.88 p
0.96 k
90.28 ab(71.84)
0.96 k
T2M6
4.61 k
6.33 e
32.40 k
4.51 h
1.02 ab
9.03 q
0.93 m
89.70 ab(71.28)
0.93 m
T3 M1
4.27 q
5.67 f
31.00 o
4.18 h
1.02 ab
10.36 o
1.07 j
89.71 ab(71.29)
1.07 j
T3M2
4.49 o
6.00 f
32.27 l
4.44 h
1.01 ab
11.25 m
1.15 h
89.74 ab(71.32)
1.15 h
T3M3
4.37 o
5.67 f
31.30 n
4.33 h
1.01 ab
10.62 o
1.11 i
89.55 ab(71.14)
1.11 i
T3M4
4.33 p
5.67 f
32.33 k
4.26 h
1.02 ab
10.26 o
1.07 j
89.58 ab(71.16)
1.07 j
T3M5
4.93 e
6.67 e
33.60 d
4.90 d
1.01 ab
12.46 j
1.24 g
90.07 a(71.64)
1.24 g
T3M6
4.72 h
6.67 e
33.27 f
4.54 h
1.04 ab
11.95 l
1.22 g
89.76 ab(71.34)
1.22 g
T4 M1
4.37 o
6.00 f
31.87 m
4.40 h
0.99 ab
10.71 n
1.13 h
89.48 ab(71.07)
1.13 h
T4 M2
4.55 m
6.33 e
32.07 l
4.47 h
1.02 ab
11.35 m
1.18 h
90.08 a(71.64)
1.18 h
T4 M3
4.51 n
7.00 d
32.03 l
4.38 h
1.03 ab
10.40 o
1.07 j
89.58 ab(71.16)
1.07 j
T4 M4
4.49 o
6.67 e
32.20 l
4.32 h
1.04 ab
10.71 n
1.19 h
88.91 b(70.54)
1.19 h
T4 M5
5.05 d
7.33 c
33.83 c
4.98 c
1.02 ab
13.11 f
1.34 c
89.75 ab(71.33)
1.34 c
T4 M6
4.92 f
7.00 d
33.10 h
4.63 f
1.06 ab
12.73 i
1.26 f
90.08 a(71.64)
1.26 f
T5 M1
4.66 j
6.67 e
32.23 l
4.49 h
1.04 ab
12.22 j
1.24 g
89.83 ab(71.40)
1.24 g
T5M2
4.93 e
7.00 d
32.57 j
4.66 f
1.06 ab
13.02 g
1.33 d
89.81 ab(71.38)
1.33 d
T5M3
4.65 j
7.00 d
32.53 j
4.58 g
1.01 ab
12.68 i
1.29 e
89.80 ab(71.37)
1.29 e
T5M4
4.71 h
7.33 c
33.20 g
4.65 f
1.01 ab
12.22 j
1.23 g
89.93 ab(71.50)
1.23 g
T5M5
5.75 a
8.00 a
34.43 a
5.38 a
1.07 ab
14.04 a
1.42 a
89.86 ab(71.43)
1.42 a
T5M6
5.32 b
7.67 b
33.50 e
4.99 c
1.07 ab
13.44 d
1.35 c
89.98 ab(71.54)
1.35 c

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Media and
seed priming
treatments
Shoot
length (cm)
No. of
leaves per
plant
SPAD
index
Root length
(cm)
Root:
shoot ratio
Fresh
weight (g)
Dry weight (g)
Moisture
content (%)
Dry
matter
(%)
T6 M1
4.52 m
7.00 d
31.93 m
4.44 h
1.02 ab
12.11 k
1.21 h
90.03 ab(71.60)
1.21 h
T6M2
4.77 g
6.67 e
32.40 k
4.41 g
1.09 a
13.10 g
1.35 c
89.72 ab(71.30)
1.35 c
T6M3
4.62 k
7.00 d
32.40 k
4.58 g
1.01 ab
12.35 j
1.24 g
89.96 ab(71.53)
1.24 g
T6M4
4.59 l
7.33 c
32.40 k
4.55 h
1.01 ab
12.10 k
1.18 h
90.23 a(71.78)
1.18 h
T6M5
5.37 b
8.00 a
34.07 b
5.27 a
1.02 ab
13.89 b
1.42 a
89.75 ab(71.33)
1.42 a
T6M6
5.18 c
7.33 c
33.57 d
4.90 d
1.06 ab
13.24 e
1.36 b
89.70 ab(71.28)
1.36 b
T7 M1
4.34 p
6.33 e
31.30 n
4.43 h
0.98 ab
11.74 l
1.19 h
89.86 ab(71.43)
1.19 h
T7M2
4.41 o
6.67 e
32.03 l
4.39 h
1.00 ab
12.31 j
1.27 f
89.70 ab(71.28)
1.27 f
T7M3
4.38 o
6.00 f
32.00 l
4.40 h
1.00 ab
12.10 k
1.26 g
89.59 ab(71.18)
1.26 g
T7M4
4.51 n
6.33 e
31.83 m
4.42 h
1.02 ab
12.06 k
1.24 g
89.69 ab(71.27)
1.24 g
T7M5
5.08 d
7.33 c
33.10 h
5.01 b
1.01 ab
13.59 c
1.36 b
89.97 ab(71.53)
1.36 b
T7M6
4.92 f
7.33 c
32.93 i
4.66 f
1.06 ab
12.78 h
1.32 d
89.70 ab(71.28)
1.32 d
*The values in the parenthesis are square root transformed. In a column, means followed by same letters do not differ significantly at the 5% level by Duncan's Multiple Range
Test.

Thakur and Garg; Asian J. Soil Sci. Plant Nutri., vol. 10, no. 2, pp. 261-268, 2024; Article no.AJSSPN.115945
267
Fig. 1. Media analysis for different physical and chemical properties
4. CONCLUSION
Thus overall, it was observed that the best seed
treatment for raising seedlings in pansy was GA3
@ 25 ppm and best media was soil: cocopeat:
vermicompost (1:1:1). Among the seed treatment
x media interaction, treatment comprised of GA3
@ 25 ppm + soil: cocopeat: vermicompost (1:1:1)
was found to be the best for almost all
parameters as compared to the other treatments.
COMPETING INTERESTS
Authors have declared that no competing
interests exist.
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M1 M2 M3 M4 M5 M6
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Total N (%) Available P
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