Seed Dormancy Breaking of Different Tea Camellia sinensis & C. ammasica Varieties and Clones

Different treatments influenced variably the rate of seed dormancy of tea verities. Among all treatments the T6 and T7 showed the best performance in breaking of seed dormancy which ultimately improves germination. Treatments can be utilized seed dormancy while Turkish variety showed best response against all the treatments for desire traits seed cracking sprouting.

Aims: Present research work on two varieties (Qi men and Juking), three clones (clone-105, clone-117 and clone-219) of Camellia sinensis and three varieties (Srilanka, Turkish and Indonasia) of Camellia assamica were evaluated for seed dormancy breaking through different treatments.

Treatments: Eight treatments (control, cold warm stratification, hot water treatment, sun drying, FYM paste and seed soaking.

National Tea & High Value Crops Research Institute (NTHRI) Shinkiari Mansehra during 2016-17.

Experimental Design: Laid out in randomize complete block design (RCBD) with each having treatments.

Parameters: Observed different traits, pre-soaking seed weight, post soaking weight, number of seed cracked, mortality percentage, sprouted seeds, fresh weight of seed radical.

Results: Significant variations were observed in all the studied treatments and varieties. Seeds gained highest weight after soaking in cold stratification and sun drying treatment. Maximum seed cracking, seed sprouting were recorded in FYM paste treatment. However highest survival rate was found in opened water soaking treatment. Similarly highest fresh weight of radical was recorded during cold stratification treatment. While warm stratification caused death of all the embryos hence no traits were observed. Similarly under control conditions 0% cent seed cracking, seed sprouting were recorded in all the varieties. Among all the varieties Turkish variety showed best response while Qi men showed poorest response against all the treatments for desire traits seed cracking, seed sprouting.

Conclusion: Among the T6 and T7 showed breaking of seed dormancy significantly & ultimately improves germination. Results It can be applied to solve the problem of seed dormancy, seed cracking, sprouting and lower the mortality % age.