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Plant Science Today (PST)

Research Articles

Vol. 13 No. 3 (2026)

Effect of gibberellic acid and naphthalene acetic acid on seed germination and seedling vigour of red okra (Kashi Lalima) with tetrazolium-based viability assessment

DOI
https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.14934
Submitted
10 April 2026
Published
25-06-2026 — Updated on 01-07-2026
Versions

Abstract

Kashi Lalima is a red-fruited okra variety that stands out for its high anthocyanin content, nutritional value and economic value. Despite this, a major physiological obstacle for consistent germination and early seedling establishment is the naturally tough seed coat. The current study was carried out in August 2025 at the Department of Vegetable Science, SRM College of Agricultural Sciences to assess the effectiveness of gibberellic acid (GA3), naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) and tetrazolium chloride (TZ) for improving seed germination, metabolic activity and early growth performance of Kashi Lalima. Seeds were exposed to different treatments viz., GA3 (50, 100, 150 ppm), NAA (10, 20, 40 ppm) and TZ (25, 50, 75 ppm) using a completely randomised design (CRD) with three replications and distilled water as control. The results showed that maximum physiological stimulation was recorded in (T5) GA3 at 50 ppm, which expressed the highest shoot length (13.7 cm) and root length (12.4 cm), likely due to rapid cell elongation and improved glucose mobilisation. Out of all treatments, T5 recorded the highest germination rate with 70.10 %. Although TZ treatments exhibited early metabolic activation, their effect was lower than that of GA₃. Physiological responses increased progressively from the 2nd to the 5th day across all treatments. In Kashi Lalima, GA3 at 50 ppm records the highest value for enhancing germination, vigour and seedling growth and development.

 

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