Effect of pre-sowing seed treatments on germination of sandalwood (Santalum album L.) seeds

Abstract

Sandalwood, a treasured gift of the plant kingdom, is deeply embedded in India's cultural and historical heritage. Belonging to the Santalaceae family, it is one of the world's most valuable trees. Sandalwood seeds exhibit post-drop dormancy of 50 to 60 days due to their impermeable outer covering and lack of Testa. This study aims to evaluate the impact of different pre-sowing treatments on sandalwood seed germination to enhance uniformity and germination rates. The experiment was conducted in the greenhouse chamber at the College of Forestry, Ponnampet, Kodagu district. Seeds were subjected to seven pre-sowing treatments: T1-Control, T2-Cold water soaking for 24 hours, T3-Hot water soaking for 24 hours, T4-KNO₃ soaking for 24 hours, T5-400 ppm GA₃ soaking for 24 hours, T6-800 ppm GA₃ soaking for 24 hours, and T7-1200 ppm GA₃ soaking for 24 hours, using a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The results indicated a significant variation among treatments. The highest germination percentage was recorded in T6 (94%), followed by T5 (71.5%) and T7 (51%). The lowest germination rates were observed in T2 (11.5%), T4 (11.5%), and T3 (12%), which were statistically on par with each other. Therefore, the most effective treatment was T6, where seeds were soaked in 800 ppm GA₃ for 24 hours. This study provides valuable insights for improving sandalwood propagation, which can significantly benefit farmers by increasing seedling availability, enhancing cultivation success, and boosting income through large-scale sandalwood production.