Malabar Neem Tree, also known as Melia dubia Cav. is a plant with considerable medicinal and industrial economic potential. It is a multi-use tree native to tropical and subtropical areas that is mostly grown for its quick growth and adaptability for agroforestry systems. Melia dubia seeds have limited germination owing to their extreme hardness. Its seeds have a tough coat that hampers water penetration and germination accordingly. Seed pre-treatments are one of the factors that can significantly influence germination percentage in seeds of Melia dubia. This study is an effort to study seed treatments for enhancing the germination and seedling growth parameters of Melia dubia in germinator at laboratory condition. Melia dubia kernels were treated with six different pre-sowing treatments. The treatments comprised of [T1: Normal water soaking for 24 hours, T2: GA3 100 ppm for 24 hours, T3: GA3 200 ppm for 24 hours, T4: Thiourea (1%) for 24 hours, T5: KNO3 (0.2%) for 24 hours, T6: Kernel (Control)]. The results revealed that GA3 @ 100 ppm-soaked kernels for 24 hours significantly enhanced the germination. Maximum germination percentage (29.18) and viability percentage (41.68) was recorded in GA3 @ 100 ppm for 24 hours (T2) followed by GA3 @ 200 ppm for 24 hrs (T3). Similar trends were observed in shoot length, root length and seedling dry weight. Hard seed coat of Melia dubia is the reason for less quality planting material available for this species and less adaptation and awareness among farmers. The current study shows pre-sowing kernel treatments have better effects on viability, germination and seedling performance and hence, can be suggested to farmers production of quality seedling.

Melia dubia, Germination, Kernels treatment, Viability

Native plants like M. dubia should be mass-propagated in a standardised manner for future commercial usage. This study suggests that one of the factors that can greatly affect the germination percentage of M. dubia seeds is seed pre-treatment. Based on present study, it is concluded that among all the pre-sowing treatments, GA3 @ 100 ppm for 24 hours proved better germination and viability per cent in laboratory conditions. Similarly, seedling growth parameters such as shoot length, root length, vigour indices and seedling dry weight were observed higher in GA3 @ 100 ppm for 24 hours. Hence, this pre-treatment could be suggested to farmers for better germination and to raise improved seedling growth of Melia dubia.

Ajay, Sandeep Arya, Krishma Nanda, Ishu Redhu and Bhupender (2022). Effect of Pre-sowing Kernel Treatments on Viability, Germination and Seedling Performance of Malabar neem (Melia dubia Cav.). Biological Forum – An International Journal, 14(3): 1690-1693.