NITRATES IMPROVED SEED GERMINATION PERFORMANCE IN COMMIPHORA WIGHTII (GUGGAL), A DATA DEFICIENT MEDICINAL PLANT FROM THE INDIAN ARID ZONE

Abstract

The present article deals with seed germination behaviour of Commiphora wightii (Guggal) by using various concentrations (0, 5, 10, 15 & 20 mg L-1) of different nitrate solutions such as NH4NO3, Co(NO3)2, Ca(NO3)2 and KNO3 under nursery conditions. At present, plant is considered under data deficient category. The seeds were collected from four different sites of three districts in western Rajasthan, viz. Jodhpur, Jaisalmer and Barmer. Results revealed that seeds presoaked in Ca(NO3)2 and KNO3 were found to be most suitable for germination under nursery conditions as compared to others. The best results for germination initiation, germination duration (days), germination percentage, peak value (PV), root and shoot lengths, collar diameter and biomass yield were also observed maximum in these two nitrate pretreatments.

Keywords

• Commiphora wightii
• nitrate solutions
• germination initiation day
• peak value (PV)
• data deficient