Ethanol induced seed germination in Aconitum heterophyllum Wall.: An endangered medicinal herb of the North-West Himalayas

Aconitum heterophyllum is an important medicinal herb of high altitudes of western Himalayas (India). Over exploitation from the natural habitats by the drug industries and prolonged seed dormancy made this species endangered. Attempts were made for domestication of this plant species through seeds at comparatively lower altitudes by removing seed dormancy. The seeds of Aconitum heterophyllum were germinated by overcoming dormancy with ethanol. This low cost organic solvent improved the per cent germination by enhancing the growth potential of the embryonic axis. In the seed protein profiles a disappearance was observed in the content of 28 and 21 kd proteins in second phase of ethanol induced seed germination. These proteins might have a significant role in enhancing the germination percentage as well as increase in growth potential of the embryonic axis. This study suggests that seed germination and potential for establishment of nurseries of A. heterophyllum can be improved with ethanol.