Enhanced Seed Germination of Psoralea Corylifolia L. by Heat Treatment

Abstract

<b> </b> <i>Psoralea corylifolia</i> is a medically important plant and it used for large scale level in pharmaceutical industries to cure various skin diseases. This plant is facing difficulties in propagation because of poor seed germination and high mortality of seedlings. Therefore, an efficient and simple protocol developed for seed germination of <i>Psoralea corylifolia </i>via hot water treatment for <i>in situ </i>and <i>ex situ</i> plant propagation and conservation. Different treatments such as hot water heat treatment (10°C to 100°C) and sulfuric acid (H<SUB>2</SUB>So<SUB>4</SUB>) treatment (5 to 30 min) were used for seed germination. In which, hot water heat treatment with 70°C was produced the highest seed germination (70%) and survival rate. It is concluded that the hot water heat treatment favorably overcome the dormancy of seed. Developed protocol in this study will be helpful for mass propagation and <i>in situ </i>and <i>ex situ </i>conservations.