Standardising methods of quick viability test for Pungam (Pongamia pinnata L. Pierre) seeds

Abstract

The viability of seeds can be determined with the use of 2,3,5-triphenyl tetrazolium chloride in a shorter period of time. Tetrazolium staining is a dependable and accepted biochemical method for testing the inherent germination of a seed lot. This is especially important in forest seeds which take much longer time to germinate or may exhibit varying types of dormancy. To standardize the preconditioning methods, soaking duration and concentration of the tetrazolium solution for pungam (P. pinnata) seeds, an experiment was conducted at the laboratory with different methods of precondition, soaking duration and concentration of the TZ solution.