Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens L’Hér.) is an important commercial horticultural plant extensively used in outdoor landscaping. Seed emergence has always remained a problem in geranium due to its hard seed nature. Hence its germination and other emergence-related attributes need to be adequately tested. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the germination and seedling growth of geraniums under different types of containers. In this regard, the seeds of two varieties of geranium viz. Large FID mixed and Star mixed were planted in different types of containers. The containers included black trays plastic pots, plastic bags, and nonwoven fabric bags. The seed emergence and other germination related parameters were significantly affected by the different types of containers. However, varieties exhibited similar responses for most germination and growth characteristics. Data were collected for seed germination, mean germination time, germination index and seedling vigor index. The type of containers showed a significant impact on seedling growth and development. The taller plants with more leaves and maximum biomass production were recorded from seeds sown in nonwoven fabric type bags. The results pertaining to varieties demonstrated that Star mixed showed better emergence and vigorous seedlings in comparison with large FID mixed. The taller seedlings with maximum leaves and shoot biomass were also recorded from Star mixed grown in nonwoven fabric type bags. Based on the results, it is concluded that germanium may be raised in nonwoven fabric bags for better seed emergence and seedling growth and development.

M arigold (Tageteserecta L.) is herbaceous annual plant belongs to the family Asteraceae (Kumar et al., 2016). Marigold is used both for ornamental and medicinal purposes. It is also used in cosmetic and perfume industry due to its aromatic nature and essential oil contents (Regaswamy and Koilpillai, 2014). Marigold is a major seasonal flowering plant grown in the public parks, gardens, and roadside Abstract | Salt stress is major concerns to agriculture globally. Salt stress interferes enzymatic activities and several physiological processes that lead to reduction in crop yield and quality. The current investigation was performed at Horticulture Garden where two marigold cultivars (V 1 = African orange and V 2 = Dwarf double mix) were subjected to salinity stress condition (0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 dS m -1 ). The results exhibited that salt stress revealed adverse effect on all the parameters of both of the varieties of marigold. The plants irrigated with canal water (control) having EC of 0.7 dSm -1 showed better results for both seed and flowering related traits. The plants treated with canal water showed better seed germination (82.56 %), seed germination index (2.04), plant height (21.31 cm), branches/plant (45.61), leaves/plant (201.67), flowers/plant (8.56), diameter of flower (7.95 cm), fresh root biomass (0.821 g) and dry root biomass (2.28 mg). The plants treated with 2 dSm -1 showed seed germination (65.35 %), seed germination index (1.53), plant height (16.61cm), branches/plant (40.38), leaves/plant (195.33), flowers/plant (6.83), diameter of flower (6.75 cm), fresh root biomass (0.718 g) and dry root biomass (2.04 mg). It was further noted that as the salt stress increases the plant performance for all investigated traits decreased significantly. The varieties showed highly different responses for both seed and flowering related attributes. The variety dwarf double mix had a better seed germination and flowering growth and production in comparison with African orange. The double mix showed better seed germination (64.64 %), seed germination index (1.53), plant height (14.94 cm), branches/plant (36.71), leaves/plant (190.73), flowers/ plant (5.64), diameter of flower (6.32 cm), fresh root biomass (0.660 g) and dry root biomass (2.12 mg). It is concluded that salt stress up to 0.7 dSm -1 did not reveal any adverse effects on germination and flowering response of marigold. The salinity at 2, 6 and 8 dSm -1 caused simultaneous adverse effects on all the studied parameters.