Abstract
The genera of Molluginaceae have great herbal medicinal value having vermicidal, insecticidal, anthelmintic and antibacterial properties. The present study was aimed to investigate and compare the seed germination requirements in terms of temperature and salt stress in Mollugo cerviana Linn. and Mollugo nudicaulis Lamk. Interspecific variability in germination responses under various treatments (temperature, sodium salts, nitrogenous salts, thiourea and sucrose) for both the species of Mollugo Linn. were studied. Seeds were scarified in 95% Sulphuric acid (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 45 and 60 min. duration) in addition to mechanical rubbing for breaking the seed coat dormancy and subjected to temperature stress by treating with dry heat in preheated oven (700C for 1,2 and 4 hrs.; 700C for 1,2,3 and 4 days and 1000C for 5,10,15,30 and 45 min. incubation), hot water (5, 15, 30, 60, 90, 120 and 150 min. incubation) and cold treatment by storing in refrigerator at a temperature of 2-50c for 5, 10, 30 and 60 min.; 3, 6 and 12 hours and 1,2,4,8,15 and 30 days. Seeds were also given salinity stress by treatment with 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 200 and 300 mM of various sodium salt (NaCl, Na2CO3, Na2SO4 and NaHCO3 ) and 10, 25, 50, 75 and 100 mM of various nitrogenous salts (KNO3, NaNO3, NH4Cl and NH4NO3). Some treatments of germination promoting chemicals (thiourea and sucrose) were also given to seeds. The germination response was significantly different between different level of treatments applied (P< 0.05). It was observed that seeds of Mollugo nudicaulis Lamk. were more responsive in comparison to the seeds of Mollugo cerviana Linn. in all of the salt stress treatments. Seed treatments with dry heat, hot water and cold treatment hardly showed any response on breaking of seed dormancy.