Germination Behavior of Rauvolfia serpentine (L.) Seeds with the use of Different Seed Treatments

Abstract

Background: Sarpagandha is an indigenous medicinal herb of Indian continent. It has many medicinal properties. Due to increasing demand of Sarpagandha, its exploitation is increasing continuously but for lack of cultivation, this plant has been listed in endangered category. Commercially, it is propagated through seeds but the main barrier of seed propagation is its irregular and low germination. Hence, the current study was undertaken to study the effect of growing media and seed treatment methods on seed germination and seedling growth of Sarpagandha to eliminate the inhibitory effect of the hard stony endocarp.Methods: Seed germination and seedling growth experiments of Sarpagandha were carried out with following different seed treatments, T1 (Control), T2 (Water soaking for 24 hours), T3 (water soaking for 48 hours), T4 (Water soaking for 24 hours + cotton cloth wrapping for 24 hours), T5 (GA3 200 ppm), T6 (FYM treatment for 24 hours), T7 (FYM treatment for 48 hours), T8 (Hot water treatment) and T9 (Cow dung treatment for 24 hours). Experiment was laid out in CRD. The data recorded on the various parameters were analyzed at 5% level of significance by using ANOVA.Result: Results indicated highest germination percentage (51), lowest mortality percent (49), minimum days for initiation of germination (23), minimum days taken for germination completion (33), highest speed of germination (3.77), maximum vigour index (1441.44), highest root (11.27 cm) and highest shoot length (17 cm) in T5 (GA3 200 ppm) followed by T3 (water soaking for 48 hours). Indicating, T5 (GA3 200 ppm) to be best seed treatment for higher germination and subsequent seedling growth of Sarpagandha (Rauvolfia serpentine L.).