chirayita, both self-pollination and cross-pollination have been reported. The stems are robust, branching the leaves are broadly lanceolate the flowers occur in large panicles and are greenish yellow, tinged with purple the capsules are egg shaped containing numerous minute seeds. chirayita is locally known as Chirowto or Pothi Chirowto or Kalo Chirowto and distributed in temperate Himalaya from Kashmir, Nepal, Bhutan along 1200–3000 m asl. As an erect, about 3–5 ft, biannual or triennial herb, S. Karst (Gentianaceae) is one of the highly marketed (nationally and internationally) critically endangered medicinal herbs of Himalaya and prioritized at the top for the conservation through ex situ cultivation by an international experts’ exercise. Such approaches are especially crucial in case of endangered species, where judicial use of seeds as valuable genetic material through standardizing proper storage mechanism is a precondition to strengthen species conservation programme. Proper storage conditions, however, may effectively retain substantial viability in seeds over a considerable storage period. Such deterioration could further result in decline of seed germination capacity. Before storage, if the seeds are not properly dried, the high moisture content may reduce the seed viability by promoting fungal growth. Depending on the duration and method adopted, drying and long-term storage may lead to considerable reduction in germination or to eventual death of the seeds. Slight increase in temperature and moisture may promote fungal growth and insect development in seeds. Seed moisture content, temperature, and storage periods are among the main factors affecting above relationship. There is a close relationship between the loss of seed viability during storage and the accumulation of genetic damage in the surviving seeds. Several factors, namely, temperature, nature of the seeds, seed moisture content, relative humidity, and so forth, influence the seed longevity during storage. Inappropriate storage medium such as room temperature storage often results in low seed germination, seed deterioration, and loss of viability, which are natural phenomenon during storage. Since very early days, simple techniques have been adopted to maintain the seed viability in both domesticated and wild sources. Maintaining seed viability for longer period is very essential to preserve the genetic integrity in stored samples. Storage of seeds as ex situ germplasm is an essential step for the long-term conservation of plant genetic resources. In addition, above 50% seed germination in majority of the populations even after 24 months of storage suggests 4☌ as the most appropriate storage condition for long-term storage of seeds of S.
Comparatively, high seed germination, low mean germination time, and low rate of fall in seed germination percentage in seeds stored at 4☌ over different storage period were recorded. Seed germination percentage significantly ( ) varied between 87.78% (Sc5) and 100% (Sc2) during initial testing. Multivariate ANOVA revealed significant ( ) effect of storage condition and storage period on seed germination and mean germination time. Effect of different storage conditions (room temperature, 4☌, and −15☌) and different storage periods over 24 months on seed germination in Swertia chirayita collected from different altitudes in Sikkim Himalaya was determined.
0 kommentar(er)
