Breaking morphophysiological dormancy in ashwagandha Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal seeds: A synergistic approach through scarification and GA3 priming

Ashwagandha [Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal], known as Indian winter cherry, has a rising demand worldwide with a market size of USD 837.5 million in the year 2025, but suffers significant cultivation difficulties. The major problem is that the freshly harvested seeds are notoriously difficult to germinate, creating a bottleneck in commercial production. This study investigates the dormancy-breaking treatments in Ashwagandha seeds using the Vallabh 1 variety. We found that 86 % of the freshly harvested seeds are viable and the remaining 14 % seeds are non-viable, but only 58 % naturally germinated. Physiological barriers in the seed coat cause the seed to imbibe slowly and our findings show that the embryo is undeveloped, resulting in morphophysiological dormancy. The seeds are subjected to scarification, GA3 priming and combined treatment (scarification + GA3 priming) in order to break this dormancy. The physiological barrier can be broken down by scarification and GA3 boosts enzymatic activity to promote germination. The scarification for 3 min improved the germination to 68 %. However, the GA3 primed seeds at 250-500 ppm achieved outstanding germination rates of 82 %-84 % and remarkable root development. Exceptional outcomes were obtained with the combination of moderate scarification and GA3 priming at 500 ppm with 86 % germination, an average root length of 11.83 cm and enhanced seedling vigour. This simple combination provides a practical solution for commercial cultivation. The research provides a proven method to overcome the biggest cultivation challenge, supporting increased production of Ashwagandha for modern health needs.