Effect of ageing on germination and seedling vigour of teak (Tectona grandis) drupes

Studies were conducted to find out the influence of accelerated and natural ageing on germination and seedling vigour of fresh teak drupes. The drupes were subjected to the following natural and accelerated ageing treatments viz., control, accelerated ageing for 1 to 15 days at 40oC and 100% RH and naturally ageing (stored at ambient temperature) for 1 to 15 months. The accelerated and natural aged drupes were placed for germination in sand filled earthen pots and kept in sunlight. The experiment was conducted in a Completely Randomized Block Design with ten replications. Germination percentage, number of seedlings/100 drupes, time taken for initial emergence, root length, shoot length, dry matter production and vigour index were recorded 28 days after sowing. The result revealed that the teak drupes subjected to accelerated ageing for 12 days had higher germination (40.6 percent) against 8.2 percent in control and showed an increasing trend with increased period of accelerated ageing (though not very consistently) up to 12 days and thereafter germination was reduced. Whereas in natural ageing treatment, drupes aged 15 months recorded highest germination of 29.2 percent. In natural storage, months after months storage drupes germination was increased. From this study, it could be concluded that instead of storing the drupes over a period of time to natural release of dormancy, 12 days of accelerated ageing enhanced the germination and seedling vigour of teak drupes.