Effect of seed storage period under ambient room temperature on seed germination and viability under laboratory conditions in Kashmir Valley, India

Abstract

This study was undertaken in the Faculty of Forestry, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar. This study deals with effect of seven storage periods/ treatments at room temperature (0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75 and 90 days) on germinability and viability of Allepo pine seeds. The experiment consisted of seven treatments with four replications each and was laid out in completely randomized design in laboratory. The fresh Allepo pine seeds collected possess high viability (79.20 to 80.08%) (Table-1) but low germinability. A maximum of 40.37 per cent germination was observed in mature seeds which declined to 33.25 (Table-1) per cent at the end of 90 days storage period. This indicated that Allepo pine seeds do possess inherent dormancy which further deepened with storage.