Abstract
Constant high temperature pretreatment given to the seeds ofRhynchosia minima D.C. andRhynchosia arenaria Blatt. and Hall., beside breaking hard seedcoat dormancy, tends to stimulate germination as well as seedling growth.
Favourable results as regards germination and seedling growth have been obtained by taking recourse to high temperature pretreatment in the range of 60° C. to 90°C. for periods of 12 to 24 hours; the seeds ofR. minima needed pretreatment at 90° C. for 12 hours, and the requirement forR. arenaria was observed to be 24 to 36 hours at the same temperature.
Pretreatment at temperatures between 80°C. to 90°C. rendered the seeds capable of water absorption at somewhat higher rates than the untreated controls. It also led to an increase in dry weight of the seeds as a higher protein nitrogen value was recorded in the treated seeds as compared to that in controls.
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Communicated by Dr. R. N. Tandon,f.a.sc.
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Mullick, P., Chatterji, U.N. Germination regulating mechanism in arid-zone plants: High temperature stimulus and germination ofRhynchosia seeds. Proc. Indian Acad. Sci. 76, 39–46 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03050644
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03050644