Performance of Indian Sandalwood (Santalum album L.) Seeds from Different Seed Sources under Laboratory Conditions in Jammu Sub-Tropics

Abstract

The present investigation was carried out in the laboratory of the Division of Silviculture and Agroforestry at Sher‑e‑Kashmir University of Agriculture Sciences and Technology of Jammu (SKUAST-J), Jammu & Kashmir UT, during the year 2023–24. The experiment was designed to evaluate the germination behaviour of Indian sandalwood seeds which were from authenticated seed-supply nurseries representing the selected sources procured at the time of the study. A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was employed with seed source as the sole experimental factor, consisting of four treatments i.e. four seed sources- Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Himachal Pradesh. Each treatment was replicated five times and every replication comprised 12 seeds, making a total of 60 seeds per treatment. The seeds were placed on moistened germination paper arranged in germinator trays and maintained under controlled laboratory conditions to ensure uniformity. A comprehensive assessment of germination traits was undertaken, including germination percentage, germinative energy, coefficient of velocity of germination (CVG), mean daily germination (MDG) and mean germination time (MGT). Results revealed that all the parameters such as germination percentage, germinative energy, coefficient of velocity of germination (CVG), mean daily germination (MDG) and mean germination time (MGT) were significantly influenced by seed sources, indicating a strong influence of seed sources on seed performance under controlled conditions. Karnataka source achieved highest germination (75 %), germinative energy (36.67%), CVG (10.07), MDG (0.43) and fastest rate (MGT = 9.94 days), while the Himachal source performed poorest.