1Department of Basic Sciences, Dr Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Solan-173 230, HP
2Department of Silviculture and Agroforestry, Dr Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Solan-173 230, HP
*Corresponding author
The seeds of Berberis aristata exhibit late, erratic and poor germination potential with significant loss of germination ability. Pre-sowing chilling treatments at 5, 2 and −5°C for various durations viz. 15 days, 1 month, 2 months and 3 months resulted in early and improved germination and highest (84%) germination was registered by seeds given 90 days of moist chilling at 2°C. Other pre-sowing seed treatments viz. water presoaking, running water leaching and acid scarification were found very effective in induction of early germination with 40–140 per cent improvement in germination and seedling vigour.
Acid scarification, chilling, germination, leaching, water pre-soaking
