Seed germination response of rice (Oryza sativa L.) variety swarna treated with sodium azide

Sodium azide (NaN3) is a chemical mutagen, and widely used in crops to improve their yield and quality traits. We studied the effect of various concentrations of NaN3 ranged (0.01%, 0.02%, 0.03%, 0.04%, 0.05%) on germination and seedling growth of rice. Control was distilled water at pH7. Viable grains were pre-treated in sodium azide solution (pH3) for 6 hrs. Germination was recorded from second day to fourteenth day after initiation (DAI). The differences were recorded in germination percentage, plumule length, radicle length and dry weight of sprouting grain. Germination at 2DAI is fastest in the control experiment than in the NaN3 treated rice variety. There were no germination in 0.05% NaN3 at fifth DAI. Germination% declined as NaN3 conc. increases. The 50% germination was observed in 0.03% NaN3 at 14DAI. There was no radicle formation at 2DAI in the seed that were pre treated with 0.04% and 0.05% NaN3. Plumule length was lowest in 0.05% treated rice, starting at 5th DAI. Radicle and plumule were shorter as NaN3 treatment increases.