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The effect of different concentrations (0.10, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 and 1.0%) of nitrate salt solutions, viz. Ca(NO3)2, Co(NO3)2 and KNO3, on various aspects of fresh and one-year-old seeds and the seedling growth of Withania coagulans (Stocks) Dunal, is a critically endangered medicinal plant of the Indian Thar desert was dealt with. The maximum germination percentage in fresh and one-year-old seeds was observed in 1.0 and 0.10% Co(NO3)2 solutions, respectively. The maximum root: shoot ratio in seedlings from fresh and oneyear-old seeds was observed in 0.75 and 0.50% of Ca(NO3)2 solutions, respectively. The demand for medicinal plants has increased globally due to the resurgence of interest and acceptance of herbal medicine, and is being met largely through collection of these plants from wild populations and the rate of exploitation often exceeds that of the local natural regeneration (Sharma et al. 2006). Thus, there is an urgent need to develop conservation strategies and implement regeneration techniques for the over-exploited medicinal plant species. Seed-based multiplication is the most effective and convenient means for regeneration of most of the desert species. Withania coagulans (Stocks) Dunal (Solanaceae) is a critically endangered medicinal plant (Jain et al. 2009) and used in the Unani System of medicine as Tukhm-e-Hayath, this small shrub, popularly known as Indian cheese maker, is commercially important for its efficacy in the treatment of ulcers, rheumatism, and dropsy, constipation and sexual debility. The seeds are reported to be sedative, emetic and stomachic, blood purifier and febrifuge, diuretic and bitter tonic in dyspepsia and also promote growth of infants (Hemalatha et al. 2004). In the Indian subcontinent, its berries are used as a blood purifier, twigs are chewed for cleaning of teeth, and smoke of the plant is inhaled for relief in toothache (Gupta 2013). In northern India, traditional healers use its dry fruits for the treatment of diabetes. Seed germination and seedling vigour are prerequisites for successful establishment of plant stands (Rauf et al. 2007). Seed dormancy is a mechanism by which seeds inhibit their germination and wait for more favourable conditions (Finkelstein et al. 2008), whereas seed germination is a mechanism, in which morphological and physiological alterations result in activation of the embryo. Before germination, seeds absorb water, leading to expansion and elongation of seed embryos (Hermann et al. 2007). Nitrate can act as a source of N and enhance seed germination (Atia et al. 2009) by adjusting K/Na ratio and increasing ATP production and seed respiration (Zheng et al. 2009). The present study is focused on morphological parameters of seeds such as shape, size, colour, weight and on *Author for correspondence: <pkkasera1963@gmail.com>, <jnvupkkasera@yahoo.co.in>. 396 DAIYA AND KASERA the influence of different nitrate salts on seed germination and seedling growth in W. coagulans under controlled laboratory conditions. The mature fruits of Withania coagulans were purchased from authorized Ayurvedic shop during February March 2016 and 2017. The seeds were cleaned and stored in plastic containers with parad tablets (a mercury compound) to protect them from insects in the controlled laboratory conditions. Seed morphological characters such as shape, size, colour and weight were recorded, based on the examination of 100 seeds, with the help of dissecting microscope and Vernier calliper. Seed viability was tested by the tetrazolium method, following Porter et al. (1947). The seeds were first cleaned and treated with 0.1% HgCl2 for 30 sec and then kept under running tap water for 3 4 hrs for removing injurious substances, if any. Different pre-treatments were then provided to fresh as well as one-year-old seeds for enhancing germination percentage and facilitating seedlings growth. Sterilized Petri dishes lined with single layer of filter paper moistened with distilled water were used for conducting experiments to study seed germination in alternate white light (1000 lux) and dark (12 hrs) obtained from 3 fluorescent tubes of 40 Watts each fitted at a height of half meter from Petri dishes in seed germinator at 28oC temperature. In each set of three Petri dishes, 10 seeds pre-soaked for 24 hrs with different concentrations (0.10, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1.0%) of Ca(NO3)2, Co(NO3)2 and KNO3 were placed in each dish. Distilled water alone was used for the control set. Filter paper was moistened daily with 0.2 ml of distilled water. Observations were recorded daily for 15 days. Germination percentage and the root and shoot length of seedlings were analysed after 15 days. The experiment was repeated for confirming the observations and the data obtained were subjected to ANOVA using RBD, as suggested by Gomez and Gomez (1984). Study of seed morphology is important to understand its adaptation variability in desert condition (Verma and Kasera 2008). Morphological information on seeds of W. coagulans is presented in Table 1. The seeds were ear-shaped and pale yellow in colour. Their mean length and breadth were 0.349 ± 0.07 and 0.307 ± 0.04 mm, respectively. The weight of 100 seeds was 0.277 g. The fresh and one-year-old seeds showed 93.33 and 63.33% viability, respectively. Table 1. Morphological parameters of W. coagulans seeds.

bangladesh journal of botany

Influence of nitrate salt solutions on seed germination dynamics of Withania coagulans (Stocks) Dunal, an important medicinal plant of the Indian Thar desert