Effect of different pre-treatments on seed germination and seedling growth of Adenanthera pavonina

Abstract

Adenanthera pavonina is an important medicinal plant, popularly known as a red-bead tree. Due to its impermeable seed coat, seed show physiological dormancy. The present study aimed to carry out providing basic information on the best pre-treatment that will be helpful in breaking dormancy. Different parameters were used to treat seed dormancy. Seeds were subjected to pre-sowing seed treatment methods in pot viz., treatment with acid (KNO3, HCl, H2SO4), organic solution (cow dung, cow urine, slurry), and growth regulators (GA3 NAA, IAA, IBA, BAP). The result of the study showed that germination percent was very low in a control condition, higher germination percentage (75%) and seedling length was found in seed soaked for treatment with cow dung slurry for 48 hours, and lowest germination rate and shoot length was found in IBA. These results indicated that seeds treated with different parameters has proved to be an effective technique to improve seedling grown and survival percentage compare to conventional seed germination methods.