Effect of Time of Seed Collection on Seed Germination and Seedling Vigour Index of <i>Prunus cerasoides</i> D. Don.

Pitamber Singh Negi; Anita Chauhan; Gopal Singh

doi:10.36808/if/2026/v152i3/170958

Effect of Time of Seed Collection on Seed Germination and Seedling Vigour Index of Prunus cerasoides D. Don.

Authors

Pitamber Singh Negi ICFRE-Himalayan Forest Research Institute, Conifer campus, Panthaghati, Shimla-171013 (H.P.)
Anita Chauhan ICFRE-Himalayan Forest Research Institute, Conifer campus, Panthaghati, Shimla-171013 (H.P.)
Gopal Singh ICFRE-Himalayan Forest Research Institute, Conifer campus, Panthaghati, Shimla-171013 (H.P.)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.36808/if/2026/v152i3/170958

Keywords:

Collection Period, Germination Percent, Moisture Content, Seedling Vigour Index

Abstract

A study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of time of seed collection on the germination parameters and seedling vigour index of Prunus cerasoides D. Don under laboratory conditions. The seeds collected at 15-day intervals from 16^th March, 2021 to 30^th April, 2021 were subjected to germination testing to study the effect of time of seed collection on germination parameters, seedling length, and seedling vigour index. Significant differences were observed in seedling length and seedling vigour index of Prunus cerasoides seeds collected during different collection period, however, no significant differences were observed in the germination parameters of seeds collected during different collection periods. The findings revealed that seeds collected during the first fortnight of April exhibited the highest germination (91.33%), mean daily germination (2.77), germination value (2.31), germination energy (40.75%), germination speed (5.06%),seedling length (16.27 cm), and seedling vigour index (1485.94).The study further revealed that at the point of optimal maturity, the seed color was Brown Group 200Dand the moisture content was 6.15%, while the fruit colour was Red Group 41A. These characteristics suggest that first fortnight of April is the most favorable period for harvesting seeds to achieve maximum germination and seedling vigor. It is further recommended that seeds of Prunus cerasoides should be collected during first fortnight of April before their dispersal in the natural forest.

References

Abdul-Baki A.A. and Anderson J.D. (1973). Vigour determination in soybean seed by multiple criteria. Crop Science, 13(6): 630-633.

Aslam M., Dutt V., Qaiser K.N., Husaini A.M., Mir A.A., Bhat B.A., Khan P.A., Bhat G.M. and Mir R.A. (2024). A study on seed maturity indices of Ulmus wallichiana Planchon in Kashmir. International Journal of Advanced Biochemistry Research, 8(10): 1542-1547.

Bhardwaj S.D., Sharma S. and Panwar P. (2002). Standardization of date of collection and mother tree diameter class for harvesting Albizia chinensis seeds. Seed Research, 30(1): 30-35.

Czabator F. J. (1962). Germination value: an index combining speed and completeness of Pine seed germination. Forest Science, 8: 386-396.

Bhatt B.P. and Todari N.P. (1990). Vegetative Propagation of tree species of social forestry value in Garhwal Himalaya. Journal of Tropical Forest Science, 2(3): 195-210.

International Seed Testing Association ISTA. (2010). International Rules for Seed Testing. International Seed Testing Association, Bassersdorf, Zurich, Switzerland.

Jeena L.S., Kaushal R., Dhakate P.M. and Tewari S.K. (2012). Seed maturation indices for better regeneration and multiplication of haldu (Adina cordifolia). Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 82(4): 381–3.

Lavania P. and Kumar N. (2021). Effect of storage container, Temperature and period on Seed Germination of Acacia nilotica (L.). Journal of AgriSearch, 8(3):236-240.

Malla S., Shukla G. and Chakravarty S. (2013). Effect of date of collection and pod length on germination and intial seedling growth of Albizia lebbeck. Indian Forestor, 139(8): 688-691.

Mittal A., Singh N., Tewari A. and Shah S. (2020). Cone maturation timing and seed germination in Pinus roxburghii (Serg.) in the central Himalyan region of Uttarakhand, India. Eco. Env. & Cons., 26: S286-S290.

Negi P.S. and Sharma S. (2015). Effect of time of fruit collection on the seed germination of Fraxinus xanthoxyloides (Wall. Ex G. Don) DC. Indian Forester, 141(4): 379-383.

Panwar P. and Bhardwaj S. D. (2007). Hand Book of Practical Forestry. Agrobios (India), Jodhpur. 191p.

Sarma D., Sarma H., Thakuria A.J., Mazumder Z., Sharma N., Sarma N. and Kakoty D.(2016). A detail microscopic studies and pharmacognostical evaluation of Prunus cerasoides D.Don. (Rosaceae) leaf found in North East India (Meghalaya). Journal of Medicinal Plants Studies, 4(4): 215-218.

Singh V., Lavania S.K., Shah V.K. and Kumar S. (2005). Studies on the effect of date of fruit collection on seed germination and early seedling growth in Himalayan ash (Fraxinus micrantha Lingelsh). Indian Forester, 131(1): 31-36.

Tak W.S., Choi C.H. and Kim T.S.(2006). Change in the Seed Characteristics and Germination Properties of Ulmus davidiana var. Japonica According to Seed Collection Time. Jour. Korean For. Soc. 95(3): 316-322.

Tewari B. and Tewari A. (2016). Seed germination in Prunus cerasoides D. Don. influenced by natural seed desiccation and varying temperature in Central Himalayan region of Uttarakhand, India. International Journal of Bioassays, 5.5: 4567-4572.

Tiwari C., Chubey S., Kurele R. and Nautiyal R. (2017). A Review on Padmaka (Prunus cerasoides D. Don): Different Species and Their Medicinal Uses. Ayushdhara 4(1): 1051-1055.

Tiwari P., Tiwari J.K. and Ballabha R. (2009). Prunus cerasoides D. Don (Himalayan Wild Cherry): A Boon To Hill- Beekeepers In Garhwal. Himalaya Nature and Science 7(7): 21-23.

William A. L. (1985). A Guide to Forest Seed Handling. FAO 20 (2) :217-219.