Effect of storage conditions and storage periods on seed germination in eleven populations of Swertia chirayita: A critically endangered medicinal herb in Himalaya

Abstract

Effect of different storage conditions (room temperature, 4°C, and 15°C) and different storage periods over 24 months on seed germination in Swertia chirayita collected from different altitudes in Sikkim Himalaya was determined. Multivariate ANOVA revealed significant (P<0.0001) effect of storage condition and storage period on seed germination and mean germination time. Seed germination percentage significantly (P<0.01) varied between 87.78 (Sc5) and 100 (Sc2) during initial testing. Comparatively, high seed germination, low mean germination time, and low rate of fall in seed germination percentage in seeds stored at 4C over different storage period were recorded. In addition, above 50 seed germination in majority of the populations even after 24 months of storage suggests 4C as the most appropriate storage condition for long-term storage of seeds of S. chirayita. © Copyright 2012 Bharat K. Pradhan and Hemant K. Badola.