Research Article | Published: 01 December 2014

Seed Germination of Coscinium fenestratum (Gaertn.) colebr. - a critically endangered medicinal plant of Western Ghats

Abdul Azeez Hussain, Chandrasenan Rajeswary Chitra and Chandran Anilkumar

Journal of Non-Timber Forest Products | Volume: 21 | Issue: 4 | Page No. 215-218 | 2014
DOI: https://doi.org/10.54207/bsmps2000-2014-4K277T | Cite this article

Abstract

Coscinium fenestratum (Gaertn.) colebr. a critically endangered medicinal liana of Western Ghats, is a potential substitute of Berberis chitria for its berberin content. The destructive harvest of the plant over a period for both stem and root has resulted in the scarcity of reproductive individuals in their distributional range and subsequent arrest of natural regeneration. The present study is therefore conducted to raise the genetic stock of the species by enhancing the seed germination percentage through the application of high humidity, temperature and wet sowing medium at field conditions. The seeds sowed in wet river sand inside a poly tunnel having 72-80% RH and 32-38oC, resulted 85% seed germination and 15-20% of seeds have maintained their viability period up to 10-12 months. In normal climatic condition only 40% total germination were noted. These methods could be a very effective technique for a lay-man to propagate maximum number of this highly potential species from its available seed stock.

Keywords

Access Options

250/-

Buy Full Access in HTML Format

Instant access to the full article.

Get access to the full version of this article. Buy Full Access in HTML Format

References

1. Anilkumar, C., Chitra, C.R., Bindu, S., Prajith,V. and Mathew, P.J. (2010). Dormancy and germination of Coscinium fenestratum (Gaertn.) Colebr seeds. Seeds Science and Technology. 38(3) : 585-594.  https://doi.org/10.15258/sst.2010.38.3.06

Google Scholar

2. Ebrahimi, E. and Eslami, S.V. (2011). Effect of environmental factors on seed germination and seedling emergence of invasive Ceratocarpus arenarius. Weed Research. 52: 50-59.  https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3180.2011.00896.x

Google Scholar

3. IUCN, (1997). IUCN Red List Categories. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland

Google Scholar

4. Pandurangn, A.G. (2003). Rescue and restoration of endemic and RET medicinal plants of Agasthyamalai, Kulamavu and Wayanad MPCAs Kerala, India. Final Project Report. Tropical Botanic Garden Aand Research Institute, Palode, Thiruvananthapuram

5. Ravikumar, K. and Ved, D.K. (2000). 100 Red Listed Medicinal Plants of Conservation Concern in South India. FRLHT, Bangalore

Google Scholar

6. Sasidharan, N. (2004). Biodiversity Documentation for Kerala Part 6. Flowering Plants. Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peachi.

7. Tobe, K., Liping, Z. and Kenji, O. (2006). Seed germination and seedling emergence of Arteisia species(Asteraceae) inhabiting desert sand dunes in China. Seed Science Research. 16: 61-69.  https://doi.org/10.1079/SSR2005230

Google Scholar

8. Udayan, P.S., Tushar, K.V. and George, S. (2004). Notes on rare, endemic red listed plants as addition to the Flora of Cannanore district (Kannur), Kerala state. Indian            Jour.For. 27(4) : 341-346.

Google Scholar

9. Warrier, P.K., Nambiar, V.P.K. and Ramankutty, C. (1994). Indian Medicinal Plants: A Compendium of 500 species. Orient Longman, New Delhi

Google Scholar

About this article

How to cite

Hussain, A.A., Chitra, C.R. and Anilkumar, C., 2014. Seed Germination of Coscinium fenestratum (Gaertn.) colebr. - a critically endangered medicinal plant of Western Ghats. Journal of Non-Timber Forest Products, 21(4), pp.215-218. https://doi.org/10.54207/bsmps2000-2014-4K277T

Publication History

Manuscript Published on 01 December 2014

Share this article

Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content: