Differential germination behaviour in seeds of the Indian arid zone

Seed germination studies of a number of Indian arid zone species were conducted and the seeds were classified into groups on the basis of germination behaviour. Results of seed germination were also compared with those of old seed collections. Most of the seeds studied showed some form of dormancy, the hard seed coatedness being the most common. InBorreria articularis, germination inhibitors were found. Seeds of different years required different duration of acid scarification for maximum germination and these differences have been attributed to rainfall and other such environmental conditions in those years.