Effect of sources of kusum (Schleichera oleosa (Lour) Oken) seed, its size and tree attributes on seed quality and seed germination

Abstract

Kusum tree is considered to be the best lac host and is distributed throughout the country. The germination of kusum seeds is very much erratic. To through light on this erratic behavior, three experiments were conducted in Randomized Block Design on different aspects of seed germination and viability during 2014-18. It was found that higher seed viability test weight (61 g) and healthy seeds with lesser discolored/ infected seed per cent (40.1) were found in the year having higher rainfall (i.e. 2014 receiving 844 mm rainfall) during the growth and development period of fruits. Thus 104 mm higher rainfall could increase test weight 36 per cent and produce 47 per cent lesser infected seeds. Diurnal variation in temperature impacted quality seed production. Experimental findings also suggested that when seed weight was more than 700 mg, it performed better with higher germination per cent (13 and 46 per cent, respectively). Experimentation also suggested that better quality of Kusum seeds can be obtained from trees having higher ranges of tree exposure to sunshine (40-90 per cent), higher branch length (2.9-6.1 m) and several consecutive unpruned seasons (3.6-8.8).