Evaluating pre-sowing seed treatment on the germination of important forest fruit plant species Hazarika P.*, Kumar Ajay, Das Dhrubajyoti ICFRE-Rain Forest Research Institute, Sotai, Jorhat, Chenijan-785010 (Assam), India *(e-mail: hazarikapaug08@gmail.com)
Online published on 29 November, 2023. Abstract Propagation of wild fruit species is rare, somewhat difficult and necessitates for standardization for their conservation and uphold livelihood. Therefore, a trial was conducted on pre-sowing seed treatment to evaluate best treatment for germination of Dimocarpus longan Lour. (Sapindaceae) Falcourtia jangomas (Lour.) Raeusch. (Flacourtiaceae) and Myrica esculanta Buch. Ham. Ex. D. Don (Myricaceae) in the nursery of ICFRE- Rain Forest Research Institute, Sotai, Jorhat. The seed germination test was conducted in nursery bed filled with mixture of Soil and FYM at the ratio of 3:1. The study revealed that germination of seeds influenced by pre-sowing treatments. Among 6 pre-sowing seed treatments given for Dimocarpus longan, the highest germination percentage (80%) was obtained in cold water treatment for 24 hours and the lowest (26%) for the seed treated with 20% Suphuric acid (H2So4) for 15 min. Likewise, amongst 7 pre sowing seeds treatments for Flacourtia jangomas, 80% germination was observed for the soaking treatment of 5% ethrel for 5 min, followed by Gibberellic acid (GA3) 800 ppm treatment for 18 hours was 63%. Among 6 different pre sowing seed treatments of Myrica esculenta, the 15 min soaking treatment with 20% H2So4 was recorded for 30% germination, followed by 30% H2So4 for 20 min was 20%. Observed that seeds of Dimocarpus longan were started germination on 9 day of sowing and completed within 30 days. Germination of Flacourtia jangomas seeds started on 45 day of sowing and completed within 90 days. The seed of Myrica esculenta was observed to germinate 6 months after sowing. Top Keywords Forest fruit plants, Germination, Pre-sowing, Seed dormancy, Seed treatment. Top |