title: 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 4°C over different storage period were recorded. In addition, above 50% seed germination in majority of the populations even after 24 months of storage suggests 4°C as the most appropriate storage condition for long-term storage of seeds of S. chirayita.
authors.affiliation: Biodiversity Conservation and Management, G.B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development, Sikkim Unit (Pangthang), P.O. Box 40, Gangtok, Sikkim 737 101, India.
authors.forename: Bharat K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Pradhan
authors.forename: Hemant K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Badola
mesh_terms: D056727:Endangered Species; D018525:Germination; D007194:India; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D012639:Seeds / Q000502:physiology*; D013045:Species Specificity; D029967:Swertia / Q000145:classification / Q000196:embryology*