Morphological Characteristics of Capsules, Seeds and Seedling Growth Performance of <i>Aquilaria malaccensis</i>

Abstract

An endangered species of Aquilaria malaccensis is belonging to family of Thymelaeaceae found in North-East India. Study was carried out to investigate capsule morphology, seed morphology, pre-sowing treatment, germination behavior, moisture content, viability, seedling survival, Seedling growth performance of Aquilaria malaccensis. Nondestructive collection were done in natural forest of Assam and detailed study was carried out in the Department of Forestry, wildlife & environmental sciences, Guru Ghasidas University, Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh. Morphological characteristics Capsule of length was 32.57 mm, Width of the Capsule was 17.18 mm, weight of the capsule was (g) 286.62, Thickness of capsule was 13.83 mm, length of seeds was recorded 16.51mm, Width of the seeds was recorded 4.83mm, Number of seeds per Capsule found one or two, Seed weight was recorded 11.91g, Seed viability (%) was recorded 80%, Seed moisture content was recorded 29.87%, Germination percent (GP) in water 73.33% and control 67.33% , Germination value (GV) 5.95, Mean germination time (MGT) 19.50, Seedling vigor index (SVI) 1536.93, Percent survivability (%) of seedling was recorded 75.00%, Plant height (cm) after 12 months recorded 47.23, Collar diameter (mm) 6.72, Volume index (cm.mm2) 2132.83, Sturdiness Quotient 8.58. The differences for capsules and seed parameters were recorded significant (CD=0.05).