Influence of Seed Pretreatments and Sowing Conditions on Germination and Initial Seedling Vigour of Indian Almond (Terminalia Catappa L.)

A study was made to assess the influence of seed treatments and sowing conditions on germination and initial seedling vigour of Indian almond. Prior to germination the fruits were subjected to the following pre-sowing treatments viz., depulped fruit (manually) without water soaking , depulped fruit soaking in water followed by drying (S-D) for 7 days at 12 hours interval, depulped fruit S-D for 6 days at 12 hour interval and on 7^th days soaking in different concentration of KNO₃ (1 and 2%), Thiourea (1 and 2%), CaOCl₂ (1 and 2%) and H₂ O₂ (1 and 2%) for 12 hour and whole fruit (without depulping) served as control. The pre conditioned and control fruits were placed for germination in open sun light and partial shade condition. Sixty days after sowing, results revealed that the pre conditioning of depulped fruits i.e. soaking in water followed by drying (S-D) for 6 days at 12 hr interval and on 7^th day soaking in 2% CaOCl₂ for 12 hr. enhanced germination (98%) of Terminalia catappa under open sunlight condition. Whole fruits took more number of days for emergence than depulped fruit.