1Present: Andaman and Nicobar Centre for Ocean Science and Technology (ANCOST), National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), Port Blair-744103, AN islands, India
2Department of Biotechnology, Gauhati University, Guwahati-781014, Assam, India
Botanical Survey of India, Eastern Regional Center, Lower New Colony, Laitumkhrah, Shillong-793003, Meghalaya, India
Online published on 26 December, 2017.
The present work revealed the effect of different pretreatment under in vivo and in vitro seed germination of Gymnocladus assamicus, a critically endangered and endemic legume tree species from Northeast India. Of the various treatments 24 hours Sulphuric acid treatment was the optimum for breaking seed dormancy in vitro and in vivo seed germination. Present work also showed that nutrient medium was not effective on seed germination. The highest germination (98.7%) was achieved on distilled water moist germination paper under in vitro condition while full MS medium was found to be least effective. The present protocols offered an efficient axenic seedling production. The seed can be stored at ambient temperature for one year. In addition SEM studied revealed the dense compact cuticle architecture on the surface of seed is responsible for water impermeability. Thus the present study revealed that the main obstruction to natural recruitment of seedling is the physical dormancy which could be overcome through optimal acid treatment.
Criticallyendangered, Gymnocladusassamicus, Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Seed germination, Sulphuric acid, Tetrazolium chloride (TTZ)
