Variability in Cone and Seed Characteristics and Germination Behaviour in Various Provenances of Himalayan Cypress (<I>Cupressus torulosa</I> Don)

Abstract

Five provenances of Cupressus torulosa collected from Garhwal Himalaya were studied for their cone and seed characteristics and germination behaviour. The three different sizes of cones i.e., large (1.98 x 1.71 - 2.23 x 1.78 cm), medium (1.61 x 1.38 - 1.81 x 1.60 cm) and small (1.38 x 1.71 - 1.60 x 1.49 cm) were observed in this species. The cone moisture content varied from 46.55-62.05%. The largest seeds were observed in Mandal provenance (0.48 ± 0.004cm x 0.44 ± 0.007cm) and the smallest (0.25 ± 0.007cm x 0.22 ± 0.005cm) in Gwaldam provenance. The seed mass was maximum (1.11 ± 0.036g /100 seeds on fresh weight basis) in New Tehri provenance and minimum (0.540 ± 0.011g/100 seeds on the fresh weight basis) in Mandal provenance. The highest germination (66.0 ± 3.68%) was observed in Mandal provenance at 10°C under prechilled conditions and the lowest germination (14.0 ± 1.00%) at 20°C in Mandal provenance under controlled conditions.