European Journal of Biotechnology and Bioscience

Authors
G Sathiya Narayanan, G Singaravelan, KR Saravanan, M Prakash

Abstract
Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.), otherwise known as sesamum or beniseed, member of the family Pedaliaceae is one of the most ancient oilseeds crop known to mankind. Laboratory and field experiments were conducted to study the effect of pre sowing botanical seed treatment on seed quality and yield in sesame cv TMV 3. Observations on seed quality parameters viz., germination, root length, shoot length, dry matter production, vigour index and EC, growth parameters viz., field emergence, plant height, number of branches plant^-1, early days to first flowering, early days to 50% flowering and number of flowers plant^-1, physiological parameters viz., chlorophyll content, photosynthesis, transpiration, intercellular C0₂ concentration and stomatal conductance, yield attributing characteristics such as number of capsules plant^-1, capsule yield plant^-1, capsule yield plot^-1, number of seeds capsule^-1, seed weight capsule^-1, seed yield plant, seed yield plot^-1 and resultant seed qualities such as germination percentage, root length, shoot length, dry matter production (10 seedling), vigour index were recorded. Based on the results, it was found that sesame seeds treated with Prosopis leaf extract @ 5% pre sowing treatment recorded higher seed quality and yield when compared to other treatments and control.