Vol. 6, Issue 2 (2018)
Cone, seed and germination characteristics in silver fir (Abies pindrow Spach) along the altitudinal gradient in western Himalayas
Author(s): HA Bhat, AH Mughal, Mehraj U Din Dar and JA Mugloo
Abstract: Silver fir, an important conifer species of Kashmir valley is adapted to diverse altitudinal conditions, and was therefore taken as a model tree species for investigating altitudinal variation in cone and seed characteristics and its germination behavior. Mature cones of Silver fir (Abies pindrow) were collected from phenotypically superior trees along the four altitudinal strata’s viz. A1 (2,300 - 2,600 m), A2 (2,600-2900 m), A3 (2,900-3,200 m) and A4 (above 3,200 m) in special forest division forest division Tangmarg of Himalayan Kashmir during mid-Oct. The cone morphometric characteristic revealed significant variation. The cone length oscillated between 10.40 (A4) and 11.05 cm (A3) whereas the cone diameter ranged between 3.52 (A4) and 4.42 cm (A3). The fresh cone weight varied between 65.23 (A4) and 82.12 g (A3). At this altitude, the seed lot characteristics at dispersal revealed maximum germination percent (39.50) and germination value (4.67) whereas the mean germination time (MGT) was recorded as 21.9 days. The seed weight/1000 seeds at this altitude was also maximum (87.18g).The maximum number of seeds was recorded as 340/cone. Stratification and altitude both significantly influenced the germination percent, germination value (GV) and mean germination time (MGT). Maximum germination percent (40.88) and germination value (4.93) was recorded when seeds were subjected to 60 days stratification period whereas the MGT significantly declined to 21.80 days. Among the selected altitudes, altitude A3 resulted in maximum germination percent (35.00), GV (3.81) with MGT of 22.78 days (minimum). The interaction results revealed significant difference and maximum germination percent (48.75) and maximum GV (6.96) was recorded after 60 days of stratification duration at altitude A3 whereas the MGT was recorded as 20.59 days (minimum).
Pages: 2052-2055 | 566 Views 85 Downloads
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How to cite this article:
HA Bhat, AH Mughal, Mehraj U Din Dar, JA Mugloo. Cone, seed and germination characteristics in silver fir (Abies pindrow Spach) along the altitudinal gradient in western Himalayas. Int J Chem Stud 2018;6(2):2052-2055.
