Effect of various treatments on germinability of Nothapodytes nimmoniana (J.Grah.) mabberly or Mappia foetida (wight) miers or Nothapodytes foetida (wight) sleumer

Nothapodytes nimmoniana (J.Grah.) Mabberly or Nothapodytes foetida (wight) sleumer an endangered medicinal large shrub or small tree found in Western Ghats of Maharashtra gaining international importance due to their pharmacological and curative properties N. nimmoniana (J. Grah.) Mabberly or Nothapodytes foetida (wight) sleumer has great demand in pharmaceutical industries as it yields an anti cancer alkaloid called ‘Camptothecin’. The population of N nimmoniana (J.Grah.) Mabberly Nothapodytes foetida (wight) sleumer declines over 50–80% in the last decade. The species is also suitable for agro forestry the wood of the plant has a very high demand in pharmaceutical industries world wide. Extract from the root, bark and leaves is used to treat patients against colon cancer uterine cervical cancer and ovarian cancer. It is also useful to control HIV - 1, falciparum malaria, parasitic trypanosomes is also known. The investigation has been carried out with a view to increase-the germinability of N. nimmoniana (J.Grah.) Mabberly or Mappia foetida (Wight) Miers. The different treatments given were found very effective such as pre-sowing treatment with cowdung slurry for 24 hours, seed coat removal by mechanical scarification or by sand paper technique the treatment data thus obtain indicate the presents of seed coat dormancy as well as physiological dormancy. The treatment is also given with KNO₃, Thiourea 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 percent & 100 ppm of GA₃. The Storage at lower temperatures may give prolonged longevity of seeds. The germination percentage may increase up to 90 per cent by the different treatments given.