Abstract
The study describes the effects of depulping the fruits and soaking the seeds of Terminalia belerica Roxb. on seed germination and seedling growth in nursery condition. Around half of the freshly collected fruits of T. belerica were depulped by rotting the fleshy pulp in water. Depulped seeds or intact fruits were dried in sun following storage in airtight container. Effects pre-sowing treatments were explored by soaking the dry intact fruits or depulped seeds in cold water for 0, 24, 48 and 72 h and sowed in polybags filled with soil mixed with decomposed cow dung. The study revealed that depulping of fruits and soaking the seeds significantly enhanced the seed germination and seedling growth performance in nursery condition. The fastest seed germination was observed in depulped seeds soaked in cold water for 72 h (DT3) and slowest germination was in intact fruits without treatment (IT0). The highest germination percentage (93) was observed in depulped seeds soaked in cold water for 48 h (DT2) followed by 85.6% in depulped seeds soaked in water for 24 h (DT1), which was significantly higher than the other treatments including the control (36.7). Although growth parameters such as shoot length, root length, total height, leaf number, leaf area and collar diameter of the seedlings were maximum in the seedlings developed through DT3, the vigor index was maximum in DT2 and minimum in IT0. Total dry mass per seedling was also maximum in the seedlings developed from the treatment DT3. Considered the imbibition period, germination percentage, growth performance including vigor index and total biomass produced per seedling, depulping the fruits and soaking the dry seeds in cold water for 48 h was recommended for obtaining maximum seed germination and seedling growth performance.
Highlights
Medicinal plants are playing enormous roles in treating various diseases throughout the world since time immemorial
World health organization (WHO) has estimated that 80% of the total populations in developing countries rely on traditional medicines and mostly plants are derived for their primary health care
The result of the present study was supported by Hossain et al [24] [25], who mentioned that the seed germination started 29 and 31 days after sowing the T. chebula and T. belerica seeds respectively when the fruits were depulped and soaked in cold water for 48 h
Summary
Medicinal plants are playing enormous roles in treating various diseases throughout the world since time immemorial. Plant based drugs are being increasingly used in traditional medicines because of their efficacy, cheap and lower side effects. World health organization (WHO) has estimated that 80% of the total populations in developing countries rely on traditional medicines and mostly plants are derived for their primary health care. Rests of the people are dependent substantially on plant based medicines or on chemicals derived from plants [1]. They utilize these plant resources for their existence by developing their own knowledge passing it from one generation to others. Plants with medicinal properties are being used as raw materials for the downstream processing operations in the pharmaceutical industries [3]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
