Effect of pre-sowing seed treatments on toria (Brassica napus) and Indian mustard (Brassica juncea) under rainfed conditions

A field experiment was conducted during rabi seasons of 1993-95 at Diphu to find out the effect of pre-sowing seed treatment on the production of tori a (Brassica napus L. var. napus L. sense stricto; syn. B. campestris L, var . toria Duth. & Full.) and Indian mustard [Brassica juncea (L.) Czernj & Co ss.]. Presowing seed treatment either with 1.0% KCl or 1.0% KH2PO2 or 0.25% Na2HPO4 or a slurry of Dithane M-45 (2 g/250 ml of water) for 10 hours fol lowed by drying to original weight resulted in an increase of seed yield by 30.11 to 55.20%. The crop raised from treated seeds had higher number of s iliquae/plant and 1000-seed weight. Even, water soaking was found better ov er dry seed. TM-2 (123 days) yielded more than M-27 (92 days).