Seed Quality Analysis and Conservation Strategies of Selected RET Species in Kodagu District, Karnataka, India

Abstract

Seed conservation of Rare, Endangered and Threatened (RET) wild edible fruit species is constrained by rapid loss of viability in desiccation-sensitive seeds. This study evaluated seed quality parameters and storage behaviour for four RET species from Kodagu district: Alangium salvifolium, Garcinia indica, Chrysophyllum roxburghii, and Eugenia uniflora. The experiment was conducted in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with four replications at the College of Forestry, Ponnampet. Freshly collected seeds were extracted manually or by maceration to assess initial germination, 100-seed test weight, moisture content and electrical conductivity. Storage potential was evaluated monthly over six months using combinations of six storage containers (earthen pot, cloth bag, HDPE bag, aluminium foil, vacuum packaging, cold storage) and five chemical treatments (control, cow dung + ash, carbendazim/thiram, abscisic acid and carbendazim + abscisic acid).  Initial quality tests showed high moisture contents (34.5% – 41.33%) and 100-seed weights between 47.24 g and 132.33 g. Initial germination required 36 to 51 days across species. However, while fresh seeds germinated successfully, zero germination occurred after one month of storage in any container or chemical treatment condition. Seeds of Alangium salvifolium, Garcinia indica, Chrysophyllum roxburghii, and Eugenia uniflora exhibited extreme desiccation sensitivity and were unsuitable for conventional storage methods, necessitating immediate sowing or alternative preservation strategies. The findings indicate that the seeds of all four species are highly desiccation-sensitive and unsuitable for the conventional storage methods tested.