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Germination behaviour of seeds of Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal: a high value medicinal plant

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Abstract

In order to evolve a quick method for smooth and optimum germination for Withania somnifera- a medicinally efficacious multipurpose plant, present investigation was carried to study the effect of physico-chemical treatments, storage, temperature, photoperiod and growth regulators (GA3, IAA, IBA, 2–4 D and BA) on germinability. The most effective treatment is GA3 at 150 μg/ml concentration at 25 °C. The optimal temperature for germination is 25 °C and continuous light favored germination showing that photoperiod has a significant role. The seedlings derived from seeds performed well when grown in a glasshouse. The data have implications for conservation and cultivation of the species studied.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Biotechnology, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, Kakryal, Katra, Jammu and Kashmir, 182320, India

    Punit K. Khanna, Ratna Chandra & V. Verma

  2. Biodiversity and Applied Botany, Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (CSIR), Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, 180001, India

    Arun Kumar

Authors
  1. Punit K. Khanna
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  2. Arun Kumar
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  3. Ratna Chandra
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  4. V. Verma
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Correspondence to Ratna Chandra.

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Khanna, P.K., Kumar, A., Chandra, R. et al. Germination behaviour of seeds of Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal: a high value medicinal plant. Physiol Mol Biol Plants 19, 449–454 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12298-013-0169-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12298-013-0169-3

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