Pre-storage Seed Hardening Effects on Germination, Vigour and Seedling Growth of Jute Species: Corchorus capsularis L. and Corchorus olitorius L.

The study was conducted at the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Salna, Gazipur from September 2008 to January 2009 to determine seed hardening effects on germination, vigour and seedling growth of jute seed. Jute seeds of two popular varieties namely CVL-1 under Corchorus capsularis L. and O-9897 under Corchorus olitorius L. were used in the study. Jute seeds were hydrated and dehydrated for 2, 4, 6 and 8 hours to induce seed hardening. Different physiological seed qualitative parameters of harden seeds were compared with unharden control seeds. Large sized seeds, highest germination and seedling root length, dry weight, vigour index and minimum mean germination time was obtained from control treatment. On the contrary, small sized seeds, lowest germination and seedling root length, dry weight, vigour index were recorded from the seeds of the 8 hours hydration. Maximum water absorption rate, electrical conductivity, mean germination time and minimum seedling shoot length were found from 8 hours hydrated seeds. The lowest water absorption rate, electrical conductivity was observed from 2 hours hydrated seeds. In case of two species, Corchorus capsularis showed better performance than Corchorus olitorius. Seedling vigour index was found to be positively correlated with viability and seedling dry weight. Similarly, seed size was found to be positively correlated with viability percentage, seedling dry weight and seedling vigour index. Leachate conductivity showed negative relationship with viability percent, seedling dry weight, seedling vigour index and seed size.