Chemical Treatments to Improve Seedling Emergence, Vigour and Survival in Heracleum candicans Wall. (Apiaceae): a High Value Threatened Medicinal and Edible Herb of Himalaya

摘要

Heracleum candicans Wall. (Apiaceae) is a high value medicinal-cum-edible herb of Himalaya. It is one of the threatened species ofthe Himalayas. We examine here the effects of pre-sowing chemical treatments on seedling emergence, vigour and field survival, intwo populations from Himachal Pradesh (P_1, 3200 m at Mari in Kullu valley and P_2,_2900 m at Upper Pulga Nala in Parvati valley)of H. candicans. Out of the chemicals tested, KNO_3 (100 mM) and NaHClO_3 (30 min) were promising for enhanced seedling emer-gence (80% in Pi and 90% in P_2 for KNO_3; and 73% in Pi and 77.8% in P_2 for NaHClO.,), reduced mean emergence time (30 daysfor P_1 and 19 days for P_2 in KNO_3, compared to 34 and 34.6 days for P_1 and P_2, respectively, using NaHClO_3), increased seedlingvigour (in P_1: SVI-I of 5.131 for KNO., and 8.517 for NaHClO_3; and in P_2: SVI-II of 3.443 for KNO_3 and 2.165 for NaHClO_3) andimproved field survival (100% each for KNO_3 and NaHClOj). Plant height appeared to be a convenient trait for screening vigorousseedlings in H. candicans. We recommend the use of both KNO_3 (100 mM) and NaHClO_3 (30 min) as overall best treatments forseedling emergence and survival and seedling vigour in //. candicans.