1Department of Basic Sciences, Dr. Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan-173 230 (HP), India.
2Department of Silviculture and Agroforestry.
3Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology.
*Corresponding author, E-mail: psthakur2008@gmail.com.
Podophyllum hexandrum Royle, inhabitant of north-western Himalayas, is an endangered and prioritized medicinal herb for conservation purpose. This herb shows delayed and low seed germination with poor seedling survival. The aim of this study was to develop a complete package for attaining higher and early germination percentage and to innovate suitable storage environment for prolonging germination potential of seeds, which is otherwise lost quickly. The findings revealed that germination percentage, onset of germination and vigour index can be improved by subjecting seeds to presowing chilling, hydropriming for 8 days or chemical treatments with petroleum ether, triacontanol or sodium hypochlorite. Storage of seeds at −10°C in plastic jars was most suitable for maintaining germination ability, even after one year, which otherwise is lost in six months at room temperature. Sowing of seeds in mixture of soil + FYM + coco peat (2:1:1) resulted in maximum seedling emergence and survival. The study will be useful for conserving this herb species.
Seed germination, seedling vigour, seedling emergence, storage environment, vigour index
