Germination behaviour of withania somnifera [L] dunal

ABSTRACT

Withania somnifera [L.] Dunal. A medicinally important plant, exhibits delayed and poor germination. The study was, therefore, conducted to find rapid method for improved germination. The findings suggest that freshly collected seeds do not germinate probably due to immature embryo requiring post-harvest maturation period. Seeds exhibited 70-80% germination with the application of IAA, Ga3 or Thiourea alone or in combination with mechanical scarification at 25 ?C. Similarly, nutrient solution and soaking in water alone or subsequent to mechanical scarification enhanced the germination to over 50%. The germination was better at pH7, in surface sown seeds and at field capacity in water saturated conditions. The findings suggest that hard testa might be primarily responsible for delaying and reducing the germination and secondarily assisted by the inhibitors in the seed coat