Seed Germination in Hollyhock (Althea Rosea L.)

The experiment was conducted during 1967–68 at National Botanic Gardens, Lucknow to test the transmissibility of hollyhock mosaic virus through seeds and to study the effect of heat and chemotherapy on seed germination, growth and flowering behaviour. The disease was not transmitted through seeds. However, seed germination was increased in both types of seeds from healthy and diseased plants. Hot water treatment at 60 and 70°C for 30 min and seed soaking for 24 hours in 2-thiouracil at the concentrations of 50 and 100 ppm gave promising results. The treatment increased germination from 6 to 15 times in case of seeds of diseased plants and 1.5 times in case of seeds of healthy plants over their respective controls.