EFFECT OF DIFFERENT PRETREATMENTS OF AQUILARIA MALACCENSIS SEEDS FOR ENHANCEMENT OF GERMINATION RATEJoyashree Dutta and Mantu BhuyanAbstract A few plant species of the Thymelaeceae family are highly valuable and demanding because they contain resinous oil in their stems, branches, and roots. From this plant, resinous oil is extracted through the distillation process. Traditionally and from the religious point of view, the oil has a higher potential in the manufacturing of perfume, incense sticks, smoke, and many other medicinal and religious purposes. It is a highly economic plant, so its conservation is very important. Aquilaria plants are propagated through seeds and the seeds are recalcitrant, i.e., they are chilling sensitive and also cannot be stored at room temperature because of their high moisture content. They are also called desiccation sensitive. Below a certain level of moisture content, their embryos become death or inviable. Conservation of germplasm in the case of recalcitrant seeds is a major issue to be solved in the current situation. Our main focus was to enhance the germination of the Aquilaria malaccensis seeds for the early development of the seedlings within a short time. Here we are applying different pretreatments of Aquilaria seeds, such as Acetone for 1 min, 2 min, and 3 min, likewise Methanol, Ethanol, hot water, acetic acid, etc for enhancing seeds germination and it was found that highest germination percentage in the treatment where seeds are soaked in 1 min acetone (70%) in comparison to the control, which shows only a 56.7% germination rate. Their germination rate was determined by regular observation for up to 2 months, and the growth curve was also prepared by calculating the weight of the seeds. The findings of the current study will help to develop a protocol for early germination as well as mass propagation within a short period of time. The results of the Aquilaria species are significantly different from each other. |