Indian Journal of Plant Physiology

In different genotypes of Stylosanthes species maximum germination was recorded in the seeds scarified through coarse sand paper followed by concentrate H₂SO₄ (for 5 minutes) treatment and minimum germination was observed in the control. The effect of GA₃ (300 ppm), KNO₃ (0.2%) and hot water (60°C) treatments were at par with respect to germination. Comparing the genotypic difference maximum germination was recorded in S. seabrana 104710 followed by S. seabrana 2523, S. scabra 93116, S. hamata 110123 and S. seabrana 105546 B in the scarification treatment and minimum germination was recorded in S. viscosa. The total seedling length, seedling dry matter and vigour index were also improved by these dormancy breaking treatments and more significantly enhanced by the scarification treatments. The data revealed that variability exists with respect to the germination and seedling vigour among the genotypes of different Stylosanthes species.