1Department of Land Development, Bangkok, Thailand.
2I.A.R.I., New Delhi.
3I.A.R.I., New Delhi.
Division of Horticulture and Fruit Technology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-110012
*Based on part of the thesis submitted by the senior author for the award of M.Sc. degree in Horticulture of I.A.R.I., New Delhi.
Experiments are described in which fresh seeds of four rootstocks (Amilbed, Kama Khatta, Flordia rough lemon and Trifoliate orange) were germinated. These seeds were also analysed for phenolic content, inhibitory principles and α-amylase activity. The amilbed and Kama Khatta gave higher germination as compared to other species. No relationship was indicated between seedling growth and germination percentage. Levels of α-amylase, total phenolic and inhibitory substances in freshly harvested seeds were not found to be related to the germination percentage in the four citrus species studied in these investigations. It appears that a high accumulation of phenolic content might have caused complete loss of viability in stored seeds.
