Influence of Nitrate Salts on Seed Germination and Seedling Growth of Withania Somnifera (Ashwagandha) from The Indian Thar Desert

Withania somnifera is an important medicinal plant of the Indian Thar desert. In the present study one year storage effect of seeds on germination behaviour, seedling growth, root: shoot ratio (R/S ratio), germination value (GV) and vigour index (VI) in comparison with fresh ones have been reported. Seeds were presoaked for 24 h duration with different concentrations (0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1.00 and 1.25%) of nitrate solutions such as KNO₃, NaNO₃, NH₄NO₃, CoNO₃ and ZnNO₃ to evaluate their effects on above-mentioned various parameters. Results revealed that cent percent germination along with maximum root and shoot lengths in fresh seeds were observed in 0.75% NH₄NO₃ solution.. Maximum root and shoot lengths were observed in one-year-old seeds with the treatments of 0.25% ZnNO₃ and 1.0% KNO₃. The maximum R/S ratio in fresh and one-year-old seeds was observed in 0.50% and 0.25% ZnNO₃, respectively, while GV in 0.75% CoNO₃.