Studies on Germination Potential of Soymida febrifuga Seed
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36808/if/2026/v152i7/171121Keywords:
Soymida febrifuga, Lesser-known, Seed viability, Germination, Conservation.Abstract
Soymida febrifuga (Roxb.) A. Juss. is a member of the Meliaceae family and regarded as indigenous cum lesser-known medicinal tree of India. The plant regenerates naturally through winged seeds. However, its recalcitrant seed nature leads to rapid loss of viability and poor germination under natural conditions. This study evaluated seed viability and tested pre-sowing treatments to enhance germination for conservation purposes. Mature pods were collected prior to seed dispersal, and viability was assessed using the triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) test. Results indicated 100% viability in the first month, declining to 31% by the fourth month. Five treatments viz.T1 (control, water soaking), T2 (GA₃ 100 ppm), T3 (GA₃ 300 ppm), T4 (GA₃ 500 ppm), and T5 (hot water) were evaluated. Hot water treatment (T5) significantly (p ≤ 0.05) enhanced germination percentage (89.98%), germination energy (35.55), germination rate index (2.90), germination index (333.66), sum germinated (27 seeds), mean germination time (9.52 days), vigour index (790.99), mean germination rate (0.733), coefficient of variation (39.64%), uncertainty of germination process (2.15), synchrony of germination (2.63), average shoot length (10.17 cm), average root length (11.14 cm), mortality percentage (10%), coefficient of variation of germination (77.66), time spread of germination (15), Timson germination index (4.09) followed by T4 over control. Overall, it has been found that seeds should be sown within one month of collection while with hot water pre-treatment recommended for effective propagation and conservation of this species. Further, there is need to explore the impact of the geographical variation on the seed quality and germination behaviour of this species.
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