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Abstract:
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In forestry, availability of healthy seeds is an important
factor in raising planting stock. Initial seed health
and storage conditions are the major factors governing the
germinability of seeds. Like seeds of agricultural and horticultural
crops, forest tree seeds are also liable to be affected
by micro-organisms during storage, which affects the
germination, and reduces the viability. Further introduction
of seed-borne diseases into newly sown crops/areas on account
of using unhealthy seeds is also not ruled out. Availability
of healthy stock of seedlings is intrinsic for raising plantations
and to meet this requirement elimination of nursery
diseases by appropriate chemicals is of prime imortance. As
exotic tree species may become susceptible to various native
pathogens, it is generally considered better to select indigenous
tree species for large scale plantations as they are
well adapted to local environment. However, before taking up
large scale afforestation progranme involving any indigenous
tree species, it is essential to have knowledge about seed
disorders and seedling diseases and their management. with a
View to select appropriate tree species with fewer seed disorders
and seedling disease problems for use in further plantation
programme, four indigenous tree species such as Albizia
odoratissima (L.f) Benth., Lagerstroemia microcazpa Wt., Pterocazpus marsupiwn Roxb. and Xylia xylocarpa (Roxb.) Taub.
were evaluated to meet the above parameters |