INFLUENCE OF DIFFERENT CONCENTRATIONS OF GA3 ON SEED GERMINATION IN CORYNANDRA FELINA (L.F.) COCHRANE & ILTIS

Corynandra felina (L.f.) Cochrane & Iltis [= Cleome felina L.f.] is an endemic medicinal herb of Peninsular India with considerable therapeutic potential. However, its propagation is restricted by poor and erratic seed germination resulting from seed dormancy, leading to inadequate field establishment. The present study investigated the effect of different concentrations of gibberellic acid (GA3) on seed germination in Corynadra felina. Seeds were pre-soaked in GA3 solutions at concentrations of 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 mg L-1 for 24, 48, and 72 h before sowing under laboratory conditions. Germination percentage and mean germination time were recorded to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatments. GA3 significantly enhanced seed germination compared with the untreated control. Among the treatments tested, 1.0 mg L-1 GA3 applied for 72 h produced the highest germination percentage (18.5%). Although higher GA3 concentrations also improved germination relative to the control, they did not provide additional benefits and were associated with a slight reduction in germination performance. The findings demonstrate that an optimum concentration of GA3 effectively alleviates seed dormancy and enhances seed germination in Corynandra felina.