Vegetos
(An International Journal of Plant Research & Biotechnology)
(eISSN: 2229-4473)
Enhancing seed germination in Taraxacum officinale (L.) Weber: role of plant growth regulators
*Article not assigned to an issue yet
Jangpangi Devesh, Patni Babita, Sati Pallavi, Purohit Vijay Kant
Short Communication | Published: 08 August, 2026
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Keywords: Melatonin, Gibberellic acid, Plant growth regulators, n Taraxacum officinalen , Large-scale cultivation
Abstract
This study investigates the effect of various plant growth regulators (PGRs) on seed germination and seedling growth of Taraxacum officinale, a plant of considerable medicinal and nutritional value. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications per treatment, each consisting of 25 seeds. Seeds were treated with three concentrations (50, 100, and 200 µM) of melatonin, gibberellic acid (GA3), potassium nitrate (KNO3), and thiourea, with a distilled water-treated group serving as the control. Melatonin at 100 µM significantly (p < 0.001) enhanced germination percentage (98.54 ± 0.94%), root and shoot length, seedling vigour index, and leaf number compared to other treatments and control. The highest vigour index (8.33 ± 0.3) was observed at 200 µM melatonin, the dose of 100 µM was more consistently effective across parameters. GA3 and KNO3 also promoted germination and seedling traits, but were less effective than melatonin. Thiourea showed concentration-dependent effects, with 200 µM improving leaf number and vigour index significantly (p < 0.001). Analysis of variance confirmed significant effects (p < 0.001) of treatment, concentration, and their interaction on most measured parameters. Correlation analysis showed positive relationships among shoot length, root length, vigour index, mean germination time, mean day germination, and leaf number, suggesting integrated improvements in seedling development under effective PGR treatments. These findings highlight the potential of melatonin, especially at 100 µM, as a potential priming agent to improve germination and early seedling growth, thereby supporting the sustainable and large-scale cultivation of T. officinale for medicinal and agricultural use.
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Author Information
High Altitude Plant Physiology Research Centre, H.N.B. Garhwal University (A Central University), Srinagar, Garhwal, India