Determination of effect of stratification duration and GA3 on germination and growth of Betula utilis D. Don under temperate conditions of Kashmir Himalayas

Abstract

The study on determination of effect of different stratification regimes and GA3 concentrations on germination and growth performance of Betula utilis in nursery under temperate conditions of Kashmir Himalayas, India, was carried out during the year 2013–14. The resutls showed that increase in duration of stratification significantly increased both the germination and growth of the species over the time of 0, 30, 60 and 90 days. The maximum germination (89.11%) and germination energy 38.22% was recorded in the seeds subjected to a combined treatment of 90 days of moist stratification and application of 100 ppm GA3 (S3G2). Similarly the maximum height (21.43 and 40.82 cm), collar diameter (4.13 and 5.76 mm), vigour index (18.38 and 35.15), Leaf area index (1.15 and 1.49), dry biomass (2.46 and 4.44 g), root length (21.27 and 30.20 cm), root area (20.58 and 27.08 cm2), root volume (21.55 and 34.17 cm3) and soil binding factor (11.91 and 21.31) for the year 2013–14 was again recorded for the seeds stratified for 90 days and subjected to 100 ppm GA3. Therefore 90 days stratification can be considered as the most suitable approach to reduce the dormancy and to improve the germinability of this treeline species.