International Journal of Horticulture, 2025, Vol.15, No.4, 143-161 http://hortherbpublisher.com/index.php/ijh 148 In contrast, the effect of growing media on germination was highly significant across all time points (p < 0.001 at 12 and 18 DAS, p < 0.01 at 24 and 30 DAS). Among the five media, M4 (soil + vermicompost) consistently exhibited the highest germination, reaching 90.83% at 30 DAS, followed closely by M5 (soil + FYM + coco peat), which reached 85.83%. These findings underscore the influence of organic matter-enriched media on seed emergence. The control (M1), consisting of plain soil, lagged significantly, achieving only 70.5% germination at 30 DAS. Although the interaction between variety and media was not statistically significant for germination percentage, trends revealed that V2.M5 (California Wonder in soil + FYM + coco peat) attained the highest final germination (88.33%), while the lowest was recorded in V2.M1 (control) at just 64.66%. In terms of germination rate index (GRI), no significant effect of variety was observed; however, the effect of growing media was highly significant (p < 0.001). M4 and M5 media yielded the highest GRI values at 67.70 and 64.60, respectively, indicating rapid and uniform germination under these treatments. Conversely, M1 recorded the lowest GRI (50.02), confirming the detrimental effect of nutrient-deficient media on germination speed. Although interaction effects were not statistically significant, numerically higher GRI values were observed in V1.M4 (68.70) and V2.M5 (66.80), suggesting that both media and variety together can enhance early seed performance. Seedling vigor index (SVI) exhibited a statistically significant interaction effect between variety and media (p < 0.05), even though the main effects of variety and media were individually non-significant. The combination V2.M5 recorded the highest SVI (1133.83), followed by V1.M4 (933.63) and V1.M5 (766.26), all of which grew in organically enriched media. In contrast, V1.M1 and V2.M1, both under control treatment, showed the lowest SVI values at 398.38 and 477.18, respectively. These outcomes suggest that media enriched with vermicompost, FYM, and coco peat substantially contribute to better seedling vigor, especially when paired with genetically responsive cultivars. The interaction between cultivars and growing media for germination percentage, germination rate index and vigor index are presented in Figure 3, Figure 4, and Figure 5, respectively. This shows that both Sagar Hybrid F1 and California Wonder responded positively to enriched growing media, with Sagar Hybrid F1 consistently outperforming in germination percentage and rate, especially under Soil + Vermicompost. California Wonder showed the highest vigor index under Soil + Cocopeat + FYM + Vermicompost, indicating that organic media combinations significantly enhance early seedling performance. Figure 3 Interaction plot of varieties & growing media on seed germination
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