Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

VIABILITY, GERMINATION AND REPRODUCTIVE CAPACITY OF DIFFERENT SPECIES OF SIDA LINN. AND ITS SUBSTITUTES

K.P. Lissy and Thara K.Simon

Abstract

Freshly harvested seeds of five species of Sida Linn., two species of Urena Linn. and Abutilon indicum G.Don. were subjected to germination studies.The parameters such as embryo viability, seed output and percentage of germination were tested. Under laboratory conditions hard seed coat was the reason for low germination percentage. Pretreatments such as cold treatment, leaching, seed coat puncturing and conc. H2SO4 treatments were given to enhance the percentage of germination. Pretreatment with conc. H2SO4 showed significant result to break the dormancy. High rate of seed output was available in all most all the taxa under study especially in Sida cordifolia Linn. indicating their high reproductive capacity.The lowest seed output was met with in Sida veronicaefolia Lamk.