Abstract

Arnebia benthamii is under intensive utilization because of its wide use as medicinal and aromatic plant resource. Self-propagation of this species is by both seed and vegetative propagation. In an effort to improve and promote the cultivation of this over-exploited medicinal herb, the effect of temperature and light on the germination of seeds was investigated with various presowing treatments of water and GA₃. Germination was found to be temperature and light dependent. Though the seed viability was 82% as determined by tetrazolium staining, maximum germination of 100% was obtained only when the seed was soaked in 100 ppm GA₃ solution for 24 h and incubated for germination at 25^oC constant temperatures in 12 h light conditions. Barring this treatment all other presowing treatments, incubation temperatures and photoperiod treatments showed less germination. Mean germination time (MGT) was lowest at 25^oC both in light and continuous dark conditions. The present study indicates that constant 20^oC temperature incubation and light have a positive relationship with seed germination of the species even under no pretreatments. All the treatments at 25^oC and presoaking in 100 ppm GA₃ and incubation at 15 and 25^oC seems to be effective treatments and could be easily adopted by the potential farmers for economic cultivation of this species.

Key words: Arnebia benthamii, seed germination, pre-soaking treatments, Himalaya, medicinal, aromatic plants.