Desiccation sensitivity and recalcitrant behavior of seeds of Aquilaria agallocha Roxb.

Abstract

Seeds of Aquilaria agallocha were dried at different drying conditions to detect the seed storage behavior. Moisture content, germination percentage and leachate conductivity were then determined at different intervals. Moisture content was rapidly decreased during first few hours/days and then slowly stabilized. Germination percentage declined after drying to certain level of moisture content i.e., lowest safe moisture content that was observed 20-30% depending on desiccation condition. Leachate conductivity of seeds was increased with the loss of viability and indicated a strong correlation with it.