Seed Germination Studies of Dev-ringal Thamnocalamus spathiflorus (TRIN.) Munro a Temperate Bamboo

Thamnocalamus spathiflorus (Trin.) Munro an evergreen, temperate bamboo is important in the Himalayan context. In this study seed storage, effect of temperature, GA3 and seven different type of lights were used for enhancing/uniform seed germination of this bamboo species. Sun- dried seeds were stored at room temperature (20-25°C) for four years and viability was 90-93% for the entire period. 25°C was found to be the best temperature in which after 3 days of sowing seed germination was started and 93.3% germination was recorded 12 days after sowing. Treatment of GA3 (250-5000 μM) was significant under the limitation of this experiment. Among the seven types of light treatments yellow light treatment gave the best performance with 43.3% germination at day three, 73.3% at day 5 and 100% by day 10. Red light was found to be the least effective and maximum 76.7% seeds were germinated with this treatment.