Chemical Stimulation of Seed Germination in ex situ Produced Seeds in Swertia chirayita, A Critically Endangered Medicinal Herb

摘要

Present study on S. chirayita was taken to (1) assess the germination potential of seeds procured form ex situ source and (2) enhance seed germination in ex situ produced seeds, using various pre-sowing chemical treatments. In Swertia chirayita, a critically endangered and high value medicinal plant, the seeds procured from 6 ex situ set ups, shrubberies, forest-slope, open-slope, tree-canopy; and green-house and net-shade, showing poor germination at initial testing (12 to 31%) were subjected to 11pre-sowing chemical treatments. Among the pre-sowing treatments, gibberellic acid (50 to 350 muM) most effectively stimulated seed germination (96.7%, maximum; p<0.001) and reduced mean germination time (p<0.05), followed by potassium nitrate (100 mM) and sodium hypochlorite (5 min) (p<0.001). Study confirms ex situ produced seeds attained physiological dormancy, which was broken by pre-sowing treatments, as a tool to ex situ species conservation.