Vol. 11, Issue 1 (2022)

Author(s):
Nikale RR, Bharud RW and More SR

Abstract:
Seed germination and seedling growth can be affected by various environmental conditions experienced by the mother plant. However, information about how the maternal environment affects seed quality is scare. This study aimed to investigate the effects of moisture stressed mother plant on the seed germination and seedling growth. Ten groundnut genotypes were grown in open field conditions during the summer months and were exposed to three moisture stress regimes then the harvested seed from the mother plants were collected and tested in laboratory for germination and seedling growth traits in laboratory using FCRD and FRBD design. Results indicated that seeds harvested from the mother plants exposed to regular irrigation (control) germinated and seedling growth traits were better than seeds harvested from the mother plants that were exposed to moisture stress at peg formation and moisture stress at peg and pod formation. Germination and seedling vigour traits of moisture stressed seed of the moisture stressed seed. The difference in germination and seedling growth traits of seeds might be due to the epigenetic memory inherited from the mother plants.