Research Paper

Research Journal of Agricultural Sciences

7(1): 169-171, January-February (2016)
ISSN: 0976-1675 https:// www.rjas.org DI: 2922-0409-2015-045

Impact of GA3 and Propagation Media on Growth Rate and Leaf Chlorophyll
Content of Papaya Seedlings
Vikas Ramteke, *D H Paithankar, **Murli Manohar Baghel and ***Vivek Kumar Kurrey
Depertment of Fruit Science,
ASPEE College of Horticulture and Forestry, Navsari Agriculture University, Navsari - 396 445 Gujarat, India
*AICRP on Fruits (Citrus), **College of Horticulture,
Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola - 444 001, Maharashtra, India
***Department of Horticulture, Indira Gandhi Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Raipur - 492014, Chhattisgarh, India
e-mail: ramtekeviks@gmail.com

Received: 22 September 2015; Revised accepted: 11 January 2016

ABSTRACT
An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of gibberellic acid and propagation media on relative growth
rate, absolute growth rate and leaf chlorophyll content (A, B and total) in papaya seedlings. The study revealed
that, seed priming with GA3 200 significantly influenced relative growth rate and leaf chlorophyll content. Among
propagation media, media composed of either vermicompost or farmyard manure (FYM) greatly enhanced growth
rates and leaf chlorophyll content. Interaction of seed priming with GA 3 200 ppm and soil, sand, cocopeat and
vermicompost (1:1:1:1) media significantly increased absolute growth rate, relative growth rate and leaf
chlorophyll content of papaya seedling.

Key words: Papaya seedlings, GA3, Propagation media, Growth rate, Chlorophyll

P apaya (Carica papaya Linn.) has long been known

as a wonder fruit of the tropics and grown primarily
for its delicious fruits and for extraction of its digestive
constituent papain. Papaya gives highest production of fruits
per hectare and an income next to banana. Since seed is
costly input and that much in hybrid varieties, thus proper
seedling growth are most important considerations in
successful seedling production under nursery technique of
papaya cultivation. Gibberellic acid synthesizes alpha
amylase and other hydrolytic enzymes which effects
membrane permeability and increases water uptake and
helps to break the embryo dormancy subsequently improves
early and healthy growth (Looney 1983). Generally, media
for fruit crop seedlings are composed of soil, organic matter
and sand. Soil is the basic medium because it is cheapest and
easy to procure. Growing media not only acts as a growing
place but also as a source of influences the quality of
seedling (Wilson et al. 2001). Particularly too heavy soils
prevailing in Vidarbha region are problematic, since soils
are withour enough drainage, which leads to suppression in
growth of root system and plant becomes more susceptible
to soil borne diseases. There is better relationship between
the manure and rooting rather than conventional soil mix
and less susceptibility of the seedling to soil borne pests and
diseases. Considering the requirement of early and healthy
growth probable reduction in multiplication time and growth
period of seedling there by standardize the seedling
production by use of growth regulator and proper media
which could be more economic, the present investigation
was chalked out.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The experiment was conducted at the Commercial Fruit
Nursery, Department of Horticulture, Akola. The poly bags
experiment was laid out in completely randomized design
with factorial concept with three replications. The
experiment comprised of twenty one treatment combinations
Gibberellic acid (GA3) with two concentrations i e GA3 at
100ppm (G1), 200ppm (G2) and Control as water soaking of
seeds (G0) and different growth media used in different ratio
i e Soil as control (M0), Soil: FYM (1:1) (M1), Soil:
Cocopeat (1:1) (M2), Soil: Sand: FYM (1:1:1) (M3), Soil:
Sand: Cocopeat (1:1:1) (M4), Soil: Sand: Vermicompost
(1:1:1) (M5) and Soil: Sand: Cocopeat : Vermicompost
(1:1:1:1) (M6). The seeds of papaya cv. Coorg honey dew
were obtained from CHRS, Chethali and sown in the
prefilled poly bags. The required quantities of plant growth
regulators were prepared through stock solution with their
different concentrations. The seeds were soaked before
sowing in the aqueous solution of every plant growth

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 Ramteke et al. 2016 Research Journal of Agricultural Sciences 7(1)
regulators of the desired concentrations for 12 hours in Table 1 Effect of GA3 and propagation media on absolute
beaker. The seeds were dried for 10 minutes in shade after growth rate, relative growth rate and chlorophyll index of
soaking. The dried seeds were immediately sown in the 20 papaya seedlings
polythene bags for each treatment combinations. Absolute Leaf chlorophyll content
AGR RGR
growth rate (AGR) and Relative growth rate (RGR) was Treatments (mg/g)
(g/day) (g/day)
calculated by formula as suggested by West et al. (1920). A B Total
The dry weight of plant was recorded at 21 days after G0 0.021 0.040 1.089 0.637 1.726
sowing and 49 days after sowing respectively. It is G1 0.027 0.041 1.174 0.968 2.142
G2 0.030 0.041 1.186 1.051 2.236
expressed as gram of dry matter produced per day.
SE(m) 0.001 0.001 0.008 0.009 0.014
C.D. at 5 % 0.003 NS 0.022 0.026 0.039
W2 W1 M0 0.018 0.039 1.051 0.694 1.746
Absolute growth rate (g/day) =
t2 t1 M1 0.033 0.043 1.179 0.885 2.064
M2 0.019 0.038 1.104 0.778 1.881
Loge W2 Loge W1 M3 0.031 0.040 1.116 0.860 1.975
Relative growth rate (g/day) =
t2 t1 M4 0.021 0.038 1.120 0.853 1.973
Where, M5 0.025 0.041 1.209 0.981 2.190
M6 0.034 0.042 1.267 1.145 2.413
W2: Dry weight of plant at T2 days
SE(m) 0.002 0.001 0.012 0.014 0.021
W1: Dry weight of plant at T1 days C.D. at 5 % 0.005 0.002 0.034 0.040 0.059
t2: Days of observation (W2) G0 M0 0.017 0.038 0.982 0.514 1.496
t1: Days of observation (W1) G0 M1 0.037 0.043 1.136 0.696 1.832
G0 M2 0.007 0.039 1.071 0.560 1.631
Chlorophyll was estimated by DM50 (Dimethyl G0 M3 0.034 0.040 1.051 0.558 1.609
sulphoxide) methods. The leaf samples weighing 0.375 g G0 M4 0.013 0.038 1.088 0.556 1.644
were added in test tubes containing 10 ml DM-50 solution G0 M5 0.020 0.039 1.131 0.631 1.762
and kept in BOD incubator for 2 hours at 60C (the time in G0 M6 0.016 0.040 1.161 0.944 2.105
G1 M0 0.017 0.039 1.050 0.895 1.945
BOD incubator depends on succulence of leaf i may more
G1 M1 0.036 0.042 1.166 0.924 2.090
more or less) for extraction of chlorophyll. The supernatant G1 M2 0.022 0.040 1.122 0.838 1.960
was used for estimation of pigments. The optical density of G1 M3 0.023 0.041 1.135 0.923 2.058
the aliquot was measured on spectrophotometer at the G1 M4 0.024 0.038 1.135 0.903 2.038
wavelength of 663 nm for chlorophyll A, 645 nm for G1 M5 0.025 0.041 1.257 1.090 2.347
chlorophyll B and 652 nm for total chlorophyll with red G1 M6 0.042 0.042 1.353 1.200 2.553
filter. G2 M0 0.020 0.038 1.122 0.674 1.796
G2 M1 0.027 0.045 1.235 1.035 2.270
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION G2 M2
G2 M3
0.029
0.035
0.036
0.040
1.119 0.934
1.161 1.098
2.053
2.259
Effect of GA3 G2 M4 0.027 0.037 1.139 1.100 2.239
It is evident from the data in (Table 1) that, the absolute G2 M5 0.030 0.044 1.238 1.222 2.460
growth rate was found to be significantly maximum when G2 M6 0.045 0.044 1.287 1.292 2.579
seeds were treated with GA3 200 ppm (0.030 g/day) SE(m) 0.003 0.002 0.020 0.024 0.036
followed by seed treatment with GA3 100 ppm (0.027 C.D. at 5 % 0.008 0.003 0.058 0.069 0.103
g/day), while minimum absolute growth rate (0.021 g/day)
recorded in control (G0). Treatments G2 and G1 were at par Effect of media
with each other. This might be due to the fact that, GA3 The data from (Table 1) revealed that, maximum
improve the rate of photosynthesis and cause greater absolute growth rate (0.034 g/day) was noticed in treatment
accumulation of photosynthetes (Alvin 1960) which leads to M6 followed by M1 (0.033 g/day), M3 (0.031 g/day) and M 5
increase in dry matter of plant and significant improvement (0.025 g/day) whereas, minimum absolute growth rate
in absolute growth rate. However, the effect of GA3 was (0.018 g/day) was recorded in control (M 0). Treatments M6,
found to be non-significant for relative growth rate of M1 and M3 were at par with each other but significantly
papaya seedlings. superior over rest of the treatments. The physiological
The chlorophyll A (1.186 mg/g), chlorophyll B (1.051 changes observed in vermicompost treated plants could be
mg/g) and total chlorophyll (2.236 mg/g) was recorded with attributed to the humic substances and nutrients, especially
seedlings raised from the seeds in GA3 200 ppm followed by micro elements like Zn present in vermicompost. The
GA3 100 ppm while, minimum chlorophyll A (1.089 mg/g), vermicompost increased leaf area and biomass in various
chlorophyll B (0.637 mg/g) and total chlorophyll (1.726 plants have been reported by some researchers (Bachman
mg/g) recorded in control (Go). This might be due to and Metzger 2008, Wang et al. 2010). Maximum relative
synthesis of protein in plants get accelerated, which is growth rate (0.043 g/day) was noticed in treatment M 1
indirectly exhibited by increase in leaf chlorophyll index. followed by M6 (0.042 g/day), M5 (0.041 g/day) and M3
These results are in conformity with Amooaghaie (2009) in (0.040 g/day). Whereas, minimum absolute growth rate
Ferula oviana and Yadav et al. (2012) in acid lime. (0.038 g/day) was recorded in media containing soil +

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 Growth Rate and Leaf Chlorophyll Content of Papaya Seedlings
cocopeat (M2). Treatments M1, M6 and M5 were at par with
each other. This seems probable that, FYM would have
increased aeration and water holding capacity in soil,
availability of essential nutrients for plant growth and
conversions of unavailable nutrients to available forms
through microbial activity.
Media: M6 soil + sand + cocopeat + vermicompost (1:1:1:1)
resulted in maximum chlorophyll A (1.267 mg/g),
chlorophyll B (1.145 mg/g) and total chlorophyll (2.413
mg/g) followed by M5. Whereas, minimum chlorophyll A
(1.051 mg/g), chlorophyll B (0.694 mg/g) and total
chlorophyll (1.746 mg/g) was recorded in control (M 0). This
could be due to the higher uptake of nutrients, particularly
nitrogen. This fact is supported by the works of Pafli (1965)
that the uptake of N, the chief constituent of chlorophyll,
protein and amino acids is accelerated through its increased
supply at appropriate time to the plants. Results are obtained
in accordance with the results of earlier worker Yadav et al.
(2012) in acid lime.
Interaction effect
The data presented in (Table 1) indicated that,
maximum absolute growth rate was observed in papaya
seedlings raised in GA3 200 ppm and soil + sand + cocopeat
+ vermicompost (1:1:1:1) media (0.045 g/day) followed by
G1M6 (0.042 g/day), G0M1 (0.037 g/day), G1M1 (0.036
g/day) and G2M3 (0.035 g/day), while minimum absolute
growth rate (0.007 g/day) was observed under treatment
G0M2. Treatment combinations G1M6 and G2M6 were at par
with each other. This might be due to synergistic effects of
these combined inputs in the stimulation of combined
growth through cell division and expansion, improved
physico-chemical properties of protoplasm, respiration,
nucleic acid metabolism etc. Vermicompost is reported to
have bioactive principles which are considered to be
beneficial for root growth and this has been hypothesized to
result in greater root initiation, increased biomass, enhanced
growth and development (Bachman and Metzger 2008) and
also balanced composition of nutrients (Zaller 2007).
The maximum relative growth rate (0.045 g/day) was
observed in papaya seedlings raised in seed soaking in GA3
200 ppm and soil + FYM (1:1) medium followed by G 2M6
(0.044 g/day), G2M5 (0.044 g/day), G0M1 (0.043 g/day) and
G1M6 (0.042 g/day). However, minimum relative growth
rate (0.036 g/day) was observed in treatment G2M2.
Treatment combinations G2M1, G2M6, G2M5 and G0M1
showed at par values. This might be due to synergistic
effects of these combined inputs in the stimulation of
combined growth through cell division and expansion,
improved physico-chemical properties of protoplasm,
respiration, nucleic acid metabolism etc.
The maximum chlorophyll A (1.353 mg/g) was
observed in the treatment G1M6, while maximum
chlorophyll B (1.292 mg/g) and total chlorophyll (2.579
mg/g) was observed in G2M6 media. However, minimum
chlorophyll A (0.982 mg/g), chlorophyll B (0.514 mg/g) and
total chlorophyll (1.469 mg/g) was recorded under treatment
G0M0. This might be due to stimulated nutrient uptake
specially nitrogen and synthesis of chlorophyll which have
role in the assimilation of numerous amino acids that, are
subsequently incorporated in proteins and nucleic acid,
which provides framework for chloroplast results into better
chlorophyll content in leaves of plant under this treatment.

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