Seed maturity indices in Aisandra butyracea  - A multipurpose

tree species of lower Himalaya

 

R.P. Singh, Ashish Tewari*, Shruti Shah and Bhawna Tewari

Department of Forestry, Kumaun University, Nainital - 263 002, India

(Received: May 06, 2008; Revised received: May 20, 2009; Accepted: June 29, 2009)

 

Abstract: Fruits of Aisandra butyracea (Roxb.) Lamb. were collected from two sites located at different altitudes in Kumaun Himalaya for analyzing the seed maturity in relation to various fruit and seed characters. The mean seed size (length × width) across the collection dates varied between 186.44±0.05 and 238.17±0.5 mm² across both the elevations. The fruit colour changed from dark green in the beginning to pale yellow on the maturity. The range of seed moisture content (62.83±1.33 to 63.46±0.89%) coincided with maximum germination. The colour change and seed moisture content appear to be the major indicators of seed maturation in A. butyracea.

Key words: Germination, Seed maturity, Seed moisture content, Aisandra butyracea

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