Seed morphometry and germination in Smilax ovalifolia Roxb. ex D.Don -an important medicinal plant of Northeast India

Abstract Smilax ovalifolia Roxb. ex D.Don, an ethno-medicinally important plant of India, is under threat of extinction due to ongoing anthropogenic activities and overexploitation. Under natural conditions, the germination of the species is low due to seed dormancy and the propagation occurs mainly through rhizomes. In the present study, seed morphometric characters were analysed, and to achieve high seed germination, various priming treatments were carried out. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) analysis of morphometric characters revealed that seed surface is densely faveolate and the lateral region mainly comprised of compact endosperm, which makes the seed hard. The seeds show non-deep physiological dormancy, resulting in low germination. Priming treatments were successful in breaking seed dormancy and the seeds treated with H 2 O 2 (10 min) + GA 3 (900 mg/L) showed highest germination percentage (87.11%). The protocol developed for improving seed germination can help in mass multiplication of the species and aid in the reintroduction of S. ovalifolia in its natural habitat.