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Journal of Crop Improvement, 26:532–539, 2012Copyright © Taylor & Francis Group, LLCISSN: 1542-7528 print/1542-7536 onlineDOI: 10.1080/15427528.2012.659418Downloaded by [CIMAP Central Institute of Medicinal & Aromatic Plants], [Birendra Kumar] at 01:56 06 August 2012Prediction of Germination Potential in Seedsof Indian Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.)BIRENDRA KUMARSeed Quality Lab, Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR),Lucknow, IndiaIndian basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) is an essential oil andaromatic chemical-producing crop of India. Optimal germinationpotential and seed vigor are essential for commercial growers andfarmers to justify buying premium-priced seed and ensure performanceof their crop. Seed germination tests of Ocimum basilicumvariety CIM-Saumya were carried out in Petri dishes at constanttemperatures of 15 ◦ ,20 ◦ ,25 ◦ ,30 ◦ ,35 ◦ ,and40 ◦ C at 16 h light/8 hdark daily regimes. The temperature of 25 ◦ C was found to be optimal,and germination percentage and seedling vigor indexes Iand II were 75.6, 496.7, and 0.358, respectively. Seeds producedabnormal seedlings at 40 ◦ C. Significant decreases in germinationpercentage and seedling vigor indexes I and II were observed at15 ◦ C, 20 ◦ C, 30 ◦ C, and 35 ◦ C. Days 2–3 and days 6–7 after seedsowing were ideal times for first and final count, respectively, forseed germination of Indian basil.KEYWORDS Aromatic crop, germination, Ocimum basilicum,seed quality, temperature, vigor indexReceived 16 December 2011; accepted 17 January 2012.The author is highly grateful to Dr. Ram Rajasekharan, Director, Central Institute ofMedicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR), Lucknow, India, for providing necessary help duringinvestigation; to Dr. H. P. Singh for statistical analysis; and to Scientist-in-Charge, CentralInstitute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Resource Centre, Hyderabad, India for providingseed material. The author is also highly grateful to Dr. Carol C. Baskin, Department of Plantand Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, Dr. Manjit S. Kang, editor-inchief,and two anonymous reviewers for giving critical and valuable suggestions on upgradingthe manuscript. This study was financially supported by Council of Scientific and IndustrialResearch, New Delhi, India.Address correspondence to Birendra Kumar, Seed Quality Lab, Central Institute of Medicinaland Aromatic Plants (CSIR), P.O. CIMAP, Lucknow-226015, India. E-mail: birendrak67@rediffmail.com or biren_k67@yahoo.com532
Prediction of Germination Potential in Seeds of Indian Basil 533INTRODUCTIONDownloaded by [CIMAP Central Institute of Medicinal & Aromatic Plants], [Birendra Kumar] at 01:56 06 August 2012Indian basil (Ocimum basilicum L.; family Lamiaceae) is an industriallyimportant source of essential oil and aromatic chemicals. Its essential oil iswidely used in high-grade perfumes, aromatherapy, flavoring liquors, soups,and sauces, and as herbal spice, fly repellant, and medicine (Bahl et al. 2000;Kumar et al. 2004). Indian basil is extensively cultivated in Indonesia, Egypt,Morocco, France, Greece, Hungary, and the United States (Bahl et al. 2000).In India, it is mainly cultivated in the states of Assam, West Bengal, Bihar,Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Jammu (Prakasha Raoet al. 2007). The estimated production of basil oil in India is 250 tons, and thisoil has methyl chevicol and linalool as the major constituents (Maheshwari1995; Bahl et al. 2000).In a laboratory test, germination of a seed is the emergence and developmentof a seedling to a stage where the aspect of its essential structures(root system, shoot axis, cotyledons, terminal buds) indicates whether itis able to develop further into a satisfactory plant under favorable soilconditions (International Seed Testing Association 2010). Because seedsare a basic and most important input for crop production, seedling emergenceand successful establishment are critical for obtaining vigorous plants.Germination is a complex biological process and several factors must worksimultaneously for the emergence of a seedling. Percentage of germinationis one of the most important characteristics of the seeds used for cultivation.For development of seed quality standards of Indian basil, information onthe optimum germination potential, optimum temperature at which maximumgermination percentage is achieved, and the first and final count dayfor recording of germination percentage are required for seed quality-testinglaboratories.Temperature is one of the most important and critical factors that affectseed germination (Forsyth & Van Staden 1983; Roberts 1988; Bewley & Black1994; Baskin & Baskin 2001; Verma et al. 2010; Kumar, Verma, & Singh 2011).In Ocimum basilicum, germination potential has been studied at 20 ◦ to 45 ◦ C(Gupta & Shahi 1998), 30 ◦ C (Gupta 2002), and 15 ◦ ,25 ◦ , and 35 ◦ C (Ramin2006). The ISTA (2010) suggested 20 ◦ –30 ◦ C for germination testing. Onlythose seeds that germinate rapidly and vigorously under favorable conditionsin the laboratory can be capable of producing vigorous seedlings in thefield. Effective stand establishment after germination is another importantcharacteristic that gives an idea about the final population. Seed vigor isthe sum total of those properties of the seed that determine the level ofactivity and performance of the seed or seed lot during germination andseedling emergence. Seed vigor is an important seed quality parameter thatdetermines success or failure of a crop (Hampton & TeKrony 1995). Theseed’s ability to withstand severe germination conditions and subsequentsuccessful seedling establishment depend upon seed vigor. Vigor tests are
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