EFFECT OF STORAGE TECHNIQUES ON SEED GERMINATION BEHAVIOUR OFPERSEA MACRANTHA NEES, AN ENDANGERED TREE SPECIES OF WESTERN GHATS OF INDIA

摘要

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of storage containers, storage media and storage period on seed germination behavior of recalcitrant seeds of Persea macrantha which is an endangered tree distributed in Western Ghats of India. The seedswere collected from natural population, de-pulped and subjected to three types of storage containers i.e. polybags, polypots and earthen pots; with seven storage media and for four storage periods. In each sowing, the seeds stored in different containers and media were sown in the nursery bed and observed for its germination behavior. Results revealed that among the storage containers, maximum germination (55.51%) and peak germination (3.61) were found in seeds stored in polybags due to accumulation ofmore nutrients in the embryo of the seed during storage. The seeds treated with Methyl parathion exhibited moderate germination (58.33%) even as compared to control treatment (72.89%). However, seeds stored afresh exhibited maximum germination (45.92%)and germination decreased with increase in storage period. The study concluded that recalcitrant seeds ofthe tree species can be stored for at least two months.