Effect of Growing Media and GA\(_3\) on Germination and Growth of Papaya (Carica papaya L.) c.v. Tiwan-7

A field experiment entitled Effect of growing media and GA3 on germination, growth and establishment of papaya (Carica papaya L.) c.v. Tiwan-7 at the Horticulture Research Farm, Department of Horticulture, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replications and 10 (9+1 Control) treatments. The experiment consisted of germination, growth of Papaya. Among the various treatments, application of GA3 @ 150 ppm dipping for 12 hrs. + Soil + Cocopeat + Vermicompost (1:1:1) took shortest days to seed germination (13.15) and germination percentage (85.44 %) respectively. With respect to seedling growth parameters viz. sapling height (8.47, 13.70, 25.66 and 38.44 cm at 30, 45, 60 and 75 days, respectively), number of leaves (6.90, 9.10, 12.15 and 18.89 at 30, 45, 60 and 75 days, respectively), stem diameter (mm) (4.05, 5.80, 6.10 and 7.05 at 30, 45, 60 and 75 days respectively), leaf area cm2(51.48), roots to shoot ratio (4.50) was obtained best under of GA3 @ 150 ppm dipping for 12hrs. + Soil + Cocopeat + Vermicompost (1:1:1). From the successful germination and development of growth performance of papaya seedlings, it can be concluded that papaya seeds treated with GA3 @ 150 ppm dipping for 12hrs. + Soil + Cocopeat + Vermicompost (1:1:1) significantly increased the various seed germination parameters along with seedling growth parameters as compared to other treatments and hence, termed as best treatment, while the poorest and inferior among all was observed under T0-Control.