EFFICACY OF BOTANICALS IN IMPROVING THE SEEDS AND SEEDLING QUALITY CHARACTRISTICS OF CLUSTER BEAN

Studies on botanical seed fortification treatments with prosopis ( Prosopis juliflora ), tamarind ( Tamarindus indica ), moringa ( Moringa olifera ), Hibiscus ( Hibiscus sabdarifa ), pungam ( Pongamia pinnata ) and arappu ( Albizia amara ) in two different concentrations (1and 2%) and two durations of soaking (3h and 6h) expressed that fortification with prosopis, pungam and arappu at one and two per cent concentrations were superior than the control in terms of germination, vigour and field emergence. The optimum duration for seed fortification was 3h. Seed fortification with tamarind, moringa and hibiscus were not effective for germination enhancement in cluster bean.