Effect of Storage Temperature on Germination Behaviour of Seeds of Himalayan Hornbeam (<I>Carpinus viminea</I> L.)

Abstract

Carpinus viminea, the species of moist temperate forest of Western Himalaya is facing the problem of poor regeneration in Mandal forest of Kedarnath Forest Division, Uttarakhand. In this context, seed study of this species was performed to observe the germination behavior of its seeds at different temperature condition. Collected seeds were stored at three different temperatures (5°C, 15°C, room temperature) and their germination behavior was observed. The 5°C temperature was found comparatively better storage temperature for seeds of Carpinus viminea as higher number of seeds retained viability after one year of storage. Seeds lost the viability completely after the five month of storage at room temperature, at 15°C only 6.66±2.66 % of seeds retained viability after one year, while at 5°C, 9.33±2.66 % germination of seeds of Carpinus viminea was obtained. It was concluded that, if the initial germinability of Carpinus viminea seeds is high then they can be storedfor a year at 5°C with steady decline in germination.