<div><strong>Background: </strong>Onion (<em>Allium cepa</em> L.) is a major bulbous vegetable as well as condiment of family Alliaceae grown in India, originated in Iran and Pakistan. Seed pelleting is a mechanism of applying various materials to the seed that can enhance the seed quality with respect to physiological, physical and health attributes. Seed deterioration during storage is inevitable process; however seed pelleting can reduce the rate of deterioration. The leaf powders possess antioxidant, fungicidal and insecticidal properties that helps in maintaining the seed quality during storage.&nbsp;<br />
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<strong>Methods: </strong>The present investigation was carried out in the laboratory of Department of Seed Science and Technology, Dr. Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan (HP) during the seasons of 2016-17 and 2017-18. This experiment comprised of pelleted seeds with different botanicals carried out to determine the effect of seed pelleting and storage potential of pelleted seeds.&nbsp;<br />
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<strong>Result: </strong>This experiment comprised of pelleted seeds with different botanicals. In all the treatments gum Arabica (5%) was used as the adhesive except control. The pelleted seeds with different material were stored at ambient conditions for nine months. Highest germination (81.75%), seedling length (11.20 cm), seedling dry weight (1.82 g), seedling vigour index- length (920.33), seedling vigour index- mass (148.90) and speed of germination (26.57) were observed in onion seeds pelleted with <em>Azadirechta indica</em> leaf powder + clay and<em> Melia azadirechta</em> leaf powder + clay. Among the storage periods, fresh pelleted seed (0 month) showed maximum values with respect to germination (86.50%), seedling length (13.38 cm), seedling dry weight (2.02 g), seedling vigour index- length (1154.50), seedling vigour index- mass (173.52) and speed of germination (29.04). From the present studies, it can be concluded that onion seeds pelleted with <em>Azadirechta indica</em> leaf powder + clay and <em>Melia azadirechta</em> leaf powder + clay showed significant effects for enhancing seed quality during storage.</div>

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<div>Influence of Botanical Seed Pelleting on Storability of Onion (<em>Allium cepa</em> L.)</div>


<div style="text-align:justify"><strong>Background:</strong> Onion (<em>Allium cepa </em>L.) is a major bulbous vegetable as well as condiment of family Alliaceae grown in India, originated in Iran and Pakistan. Seed pelleting is a mechanism of applying various materials to the seed that can enhance the seed quality with respect to physiological, physical and health attributes. Seed pelleting make it easy to handle small and irregular shaped seeds.<br /><strong>Methods:</strong> The present investigation was conducted in the field of Department of Seed Science and Technology, Dr. Y. S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan during seasons of 2016-17 and 2017-18.&nbsp;<br /><strong>Result:</strong> This experiment comprised of pelleted seeds with different botanicals carried out to determine the effect of sowing dates and seed pelleting and their interactions on plant growth, yield and quality of bulb crop. All the factors in the experiment as well as their interactions showed significant influence on plant growth, yield and yield contributing characters in onion. The seeds pelleted with <em>Azadirechta indica</em> leaf powder + clay and <em>Melia azedarach</em> &nbsp;leaf powder + clay sown directly showed maximum values w.r.t. emergence (91.50 %), plant height at 60 days after sowing (35.35 cm), average leaf length (38.43cm), number of leaves per plant (8.67), number of days to harvesting (233.49),&nbsp;polar diameter (46.72 mm), equatorial diameter (57.77 mm), bulb size index (2699.74 ), neck thickness (12.12 mm), number of bulb per plot (89.00) average bulb weight (75.24 g), bulb yield (6.67 kg per plot or 400.01 q per ha), plant height before neck fall stage (58.55 cm). From the present studies, it can be concluded that onion seeds pelleted with <em>Azadirechta indica</em> leaf powder + clay and <em>Melia azedarach</em> leaf powder + clay showed significant effects for enhancing bulb quality, growth, quality and yield of bulb crop raised through direct seeding.</div>

<div style="text-align: justify;">Effect of Sowing Dates and Botanical Seed Pelleting on Plant Growth, Bulb Yield and Quality of Onion (<em>Allium cepa</em> L.)</div>

Influence of Botanical Seed Pelleting on Storability of Onion (Allium cepa L.)

Effect of Sowing Dates and Botanical Seed Pelleting on Plant Growth, Bulb Yield and Quality of Onion (Allium cepa L.)