STUDIES ON ENHANCING SEED GERMINATION AND SEEDLING VIGOUR IN TEAK (TECTONA GRANDIS)

Abstract

Several seed treatments were tried to improve the germination of fresh teak drupes taken from Kallar, India. These drupes had earlier been characterised by poor germination. Scarification using commercial grade sulphuric acid at 50 ml/100 g of drupe for 1 h followed by soaking in water for 24 h improved the germination from 17.0 to 45.0%. The germination was early by 8.6 days and seedling vigour parameters in terms of root and shoot lengths,
dry matter production and vigour index were also higher. Soaking of acid scarified drupes in 2% KNO₃ improved the germination from 17.6 to 54.5%. The germination was early by 10.2 days. The seedling vigour parameters were also higher in this treatment. Seeds soaked in 1% KNO₃ performed equally well (54.0% mean germination). Hence it is recommended that acid scarified drupes be soaked in 1% KNO, to enhance the germinal ion and seedling vigour.