N. Bahar , K. C. Naithani , Y. S. Chauhan

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M. M. S. Rawat , K. C. Naithani , R. C. Thapliyal

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The seeds of Ailanthus excelsa exhibited orthodox storage behaviour as viability period increased with the decrease in storage temperature and seed moisture content. Seeds dried to 5.7% moisture content remained viable, with 50% of the initial germination, beyond three years at 5°C and beyond one year at ambient room temperature. The seeds are non-dormant and germinate freely at 30°C on top of paper, the conditions found ideal for testing germination capacity.

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V. K. Bahuguna , J. D. S. Negi , S. R. Joshi , K. C. Naithani

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The paper describes the results of a study carried out on the litter decomposition of Shorea robusta and Eucalyptus camaldulensis plantation of forest estate. The study revealed that under the present microclimatic conditions the litter decomposition was faster under Eucalyptus prohably on account of high initial leachability of the potassium. The rate of decomposition under sal have shown a steady pattern of weight loss.

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V. K. Bahuguna , M. M. S. Rawat , K. C. Naithani

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Seed of Michelia champaca were treated variously to enhance germination. All coat softening treatments failed to improve germination. Little improvement in germination was observed in seeds prechilled at 5°C. Gibberellic acid was found effective in promoting total germination as well as speed of germination in terms of germination value.

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V. K. Bahuguna , M. M. S. Rawat , K. C. Naithani

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This paper presents the results obtained after investigation on the seed storage of Michelia champaca. The seeds of this species are very short-lived, under natural environmental conditions. The seeds were stored in different containers at room temperature and at low (5°C) temperature. The results revealed, that the seeds stored in well aerated containers at low temperature retain germination capacity till the end '8' months. The best results were exhibited, by the seeds stored in perforated polybags, followed by Markene bags.

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K. K. Sharma , K. C. Naithani , P. M. Sangal

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High temperatures generated by forest fires have a profound effect on seeds particularly those lying on the forest floor or buried in top layer of the soil. The seeds of different species are known to vary in their tolerance to high temperatures depending on their individual characters chiefly the type of seed coat. While soft seeds are consumed by the fire' the seeds of some species having hard seed coats actually need fairly high temperatures to break the dormacy and to induce germination. Such variations in heat tolerance behaviour of seeds account for the pattern of vegetational succession following burning of an area. Heat tolerance behaviour of seeds of forest as well as agricultural crops has been studied by many workers abroad but no such work appears to have been done in India. The results of a pilot laboratory trial on the seeds of Leucaena leucocephala are discussed in this paper. It has been found that dry heat treatment of 75°-80°C for 5 minutes actually increased the germination whereas temperature range of 125°-130°C for 5 minutes proved lethal for these seeds.

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