Effect of pre-sowing treatments on seed germination in Hedychium spicatum: An important vulnerable medicinal plant of Indian Himalayan region

Abstract

The objective of Present study was to examine the effect of various pre-sowing treatments on seed germination of an important and vulnerable high value medicinal plant, Hedychium spicatum with different plant growth regulators (PGRs) and nitrogenous compounds under different conditions. Out of various used treatments, gibberellic acid (GA3) and potassium nitrate (KNO3) were significantly effective treatments regarding seed germination of this species. This simple cost effective technique could be implemented by the nursery growers and by the commercial laboratories because KNO3 is cost effective (low in price) and easily available rather than other plant growth regulators. Using this simple and significant study we could propagate a large number of seedlings of this species under laboratory as well as nursery conditions. Keywords: Pre-sowing treatment, gibberellic acid (GA3), potassium nitrate (KNO3), seed germination, medicinal plant.