Effect of field conditions and time of sowing on seed germination and growth parameters in Rheum australe D. Don: an endangered medicinal plant of high altitude Himalayas

The present study was conducted to determine the seed germination and growth behavior of Rheum australe an endangered medicinal plant of high altitude Himalayas under different f ield conditions viz. open, glass house and shade net house and different time of sowings at lower altitude of 1250 m of mid hill conditions of Himachal Pradesh. Seeds were harvested during October month from different natural ecological zones of Himachal Pradesh. Seed germinability was tested in the mixture of soil + sand + vermicompost + cocopeat (2:1:1:1). The experiment was carried out for two years with three replications. Observations were recorded on the germination percentage, initiation of germination (days), seedling root and shoot length (cm). Statistical analysis revealed signif icant effect on different parameters under observation. The results showed that maximum seed germination, seedling emergence, seedling shoot and root length, was recorded under shade net house conditions in soil + sand + vermicompost + cocopeat (2:1:1:1) media, when the seeds were sown during November month