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A COLD SHOCK DURING IMBIBITION IMPROVES GERMINATION OF ACACIA NILOTICA SEEDS

FAIZ-UL HASSAN NASIM*, TALAT FAKHIRA SHAHZADI AND MOHAMMAD ASHRAF

Abstract: Acacia nilotica seeds collected from Cholistan desert, Bahawalpur, Pakistan, exhibited poor germination profiles both at 37°C and at natural day and night alternating temperature cycle (25/16°C), At 37°C an erratic gennination of 40±10% was obtained with a spread of germination from 6 to 17±2 days, while at alternating temperature cycle (25/16°C) it was 37±7% and 7 to 20±3 days, respectively. A number of physico-chemical treatments failed to improve these germination profiles, Imbibition at 37°C for a specific period followed by a cold shock, a drop in temperature for 14 h, significantly improved germination of seeds.

Department of Chemistry, Islamia University, Bahawalpur-63102, Pakistan.

Corresponding Author: Present Address: Pharmacy Department, Railway Road Campus, Islamia
University, Bahawalpur-63102, Pakistan.