Vol. 9, Special Issue 12, Part A (2025)

Seed priming with chemicals and plant growth hormones enhances the germination efficiency of Lisianthus. The present study evaluated the influence of different priming agents viz., thiourea (0.2 ppm, 0.4 ppm and 0.6 ppm), potassium nitrate (0.1%, 0.2% and 0.3%), and plant growth hormones such as gibberellic acid (GA₃ at 500 ppm, 600 ppm and 700 ppm) and Ethrel (15 ppm, 25 ppm and 35 ppm) on seed germination and associated traits in Lisianthus. Among the treatments, priming with GA₃ at 700 ppm showed superior performance across most germination and seedling parameters, including highest germination percentage (97%), germination energy (92.15%), and germination value (6.46). It also resulted in the shortest time for initiation and completion of germination (6.0 and 15.3 days, respectively), reduced germination time (6.55 days), highest survival rate (80.70%), and maximum vigour index (1399). Seedlings from this treatment exhibited the longest plumule (6.20 mm) and radicle length (6.80 mm), required the least time for emergence of first (6.19 days), second (19.83 days) and third (34.13 days) true leaf pairs, and recorded the highest fresh (2.22 mg) and dry weight (0.21 mg). From this study, it can be concluded that GA₃ at 700 ppm is an effective priming agent for improving germination and seedling growth of Lisianthus.