International Journal of Forestry and Crop Improvement

Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access
Open Access Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Restricted Access Subscription Access

Germination and ex-situ Conservation of Terminalia arjuna (Roxb.) Wight and Arn. Seeds


Affiliations
1 Tropical Forest Research Institute, Jabalpur (M.P.), India
     

   Subscribe/Renew Journal


Terminalia arjuna is an important medicinal plant, the bark of which is useful for treatment of various diseases including fractures, ulcers and hypertension. This study involved: I) the effect of seed pretreatments for betterment of germination immediately after harvest and II) to evaluate the conditions for ex-situ conservation of arjuna seeds. Pretreatments tested to stimulate germination were: control, cold water, hot water, potassium nitrate solution, plant growth regulators and sulfuric acid. Germination response was highest by use IAA at the dose of 500 ppm, probably because of the hormonal nature of the dormancy in this species. Seeds were dried to 4.5 per cent, 8.2 per cent and 12.8 per cent moisture contents and stored at -20°C, 5°C, 15°C and 40°C for three years. Sampling for assessment of viability and moisture content was done at regular intervals. The seeds are tolerant upto 4.5 per cent moisture content, hence suggesting orthodox nature of the seed. The best results were obtained when the seeds were dried to 4.5 to 8.2 per cent moisture content prior to storage and stored in air-tight containers in 15 to -20°C. Use of these storage conditions may allow arjuna seeds to be stored for at least 3 years without a significant loss in viability and will help in conservation of this valuable species.

Keywords

Terminalia arjuna, Pretreatment, Seed Germination, Seed Storage.
Subscription Login to verify subscription
User
Notifications
Font Size


  • Bonner, F.T., Vozzo, W.W. and Land, S.B. (1994). Tree seed technology training course manual. USDA Forest Service GTR-SO-106, New Orleans, LA, USA.

  • Bradbeer, W.J. (1988). Seed dormancy and germination. Blackie Academy, Glasgow.

  • Chauhan, R.S. and Nautiyal, M.C. (2007). Seed germination and seed storage behaviour of Nardostachys jatamansi DC, an endangered medicinal herb of high-altitude Himalaya. Curr. Sci., 92 : 1620-1624.

  • Dell’aquilla, A. (1987). Mean germination time as a monitor of the seed aging. Plant physiol. Biochem., 25: 761-768.

  • Dent, T.V. (1948). Seed storage, with particular reference to the storage of seed of Indian forest plants. In : Indian forest records. Silviculture, 7 (1). The Manager of Publications, New Delhi, India.

  • Halder, S., Bharal, N., Mediratta, P.K., Kaur, I. and Sharma, K.K. (2009). Anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and antinociceptive activity of Terminalia arjuna Roxb. bark powder in mice and rats. Indian J. Exp. Biol., 47: 577-583.

  • ISTA (1985). International rule for seed testing. Seed Sci. Technol., 13: 299-335.

  • Likoswe, M.G., Joyce, P.N., Mwase, W.F. and Chilima, C.Z. (2008). Effect of seed collection times and pretreatment methods on germination of Terminalia sericea Burch. Ex DC. Afri. J. Biotech., 7: 2840-2846.

  • Luna, R.K. (1996). Terminalia arjuna. In: Plantation trees. International Book Distributers. Dehra Dun, India, pp. 782-787.

  • Negi, A.K. and Todaria, N.P. (1995). Pretreatment methods to improve germination in Terminalia tomentosa. Wight & Arn. Seed. Sci. Technol., 23: 245-248.

  • Noland, T.L. and Murphy, J.B. (1984). Changes in isocitrate activity and ATP contents during stratification and germination of sugarpine seeds. Seed Sci. Technol., 12: 777-787.

  • Radosevich, S., Holt, J. and Ghersa, C. (1997). Weed ecology. New York: John Willey and Sons, 589 pp.

  • Rahman, M.H., Haque, M.S., Karim, M.A. and Ahmed, M. (2006). Effects of gibberellic acid (GA3) on breaking dormancy in garlic (Allium sativumL.) of seeds. Internat. J. Agric. Biol., 8: 63–65.

  • Richa, A. and Sharma, M.L. (1994). Enhancing the germination of stored bamboo seeds using plant growth regulators. Seed Sci. Technol., 22: 313-317.

  • Roberts, E.H. (1973). Predicting the storage life of seeds. Seed Sci. Technol., 1: 499-514.

  • Shivanna, H., Balchandra, H.C. and Suresha, N.L. (2007). Influence of growth regulators and pre-sowing chemicals on germination and growth parameters of Prosopis cineraria (L.) Druce. Karnataka J. Agric. Sci., 20: 328-329.


Abstract Views: 546

PDF Views: 0




  • Germination and ex-situ Conservation of Terminalia arjuna (Roxb.) Wight and Arn. Seeds

Abstract Views: 546  |  PDF Views: 0

Authors

Maitreyee Kundu
Tropical Forest Research Institute, Jabalpur (M.P.), India
Shweta Tiwari
Tropical Forest Research Institute, Jabalpur (M.P.), India

Abstract


Terminalia arjuna is an important medicinal plant, the bark of which is useful for treatment of various diseases including fractures, ulcers and hypertension. This study involved: I) the effect of seed pretreatments for betterment of germination immediately after harvest and II) to evaluate the conditions for ex-situ conservation of arjuna seeds. Pretreatments tested to stimulate germination were: control, cold water, hot water, potassium nitrate solution, plant growth regulators and sulfuric acid. Germination response was highest by use IAA at the dose of 500 ppm, probably because of the hormonal nature of the dormancy in this species. Seeds were dried to 4.5 per cent, 8.2 per cent and 12.8 per cent moisture contents and stored at -20°C, 5°C, 15°C and 40°C for three years. Sampling for assessment of viability and moisture content was done at regular intervals. The seeds are tolerant upto 4.5 per cent moisture content, hence suggesting orthodox nature of the seed. The best results were obtained when the seeds were dried to 4.5 to 8.2 per cent moisture content prior to storage and stored in air-tight containers in 15 to -20°C. Use of these storage conditions may allow arjuna seeds to be stored for at least 3 years without a significant loss in viability and will help in conservation of this valuable species.

Keywords


Terminalia arjuna, Pretreatment, Seed Germination, Seed Storage.

References