Effect of storage methods on seed germination of Lophopetalum wightianum Arn: An important tropical endangered tree of Western Ghats, India

Storage of seeds is the most convenient methods of ex-situ conservation of plant germplasm which maintain viability. In case of orthodox seeds, viability achieved by storing in dry state under ambient temperature and low relative humidity but desiccation sensitive nature of recalcitrant species act as a hurdle for its storage. Lophopetalum wightianum is an important riparian tree with commercial prospects with recalcitrant nature of seeds. The seeds were stored in three different containers for four storage periods after imposing the seven different storage treatments. The study reveals that among the different storage containers, earthen pot was found to be the best storage container which maintains the viability up to two months with maximum germination of 38.23 per cent. Different chemical treatments applied to the seeds helped to maintain the seed viability for a longer period (90 Days), seeds treated with Chlorpyriphos (0.89%) exhibited maximum (30.31%) germination but there was a gradual decrease in germination with an increase in storage period. Among all the combination of treatments, seeds stored in an earthen pot treated with Carbendazim (0.25%) + Chlorpyriphos (0.89%) stored for 60 days exhibited maximum germination (64.61%).