GERMINATION AND VIABILITY CAPACITY OF SEEDS OF WITHANIA SOMNIFERA (L.) DUNAL

Rate of germination of seed of Withania somnifera, is usually different in different species varieties or members of Withania somnifera L. Dunal (Ashwagandha) (Sharma, et.al., 2015). The mycoflora percentage of seed is also about different in different species of Ashwagandha. (Ingle & Kareppa, 2009). Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal (Solanaceae) is generally reproduced by seeds. The percentage of germination is low, because of the presence of some inhibitory substances in the fruit. Among all the local and Indian cultivars, the pharmaceutical industries mostly give preference to the Indian cultivars as their roots have starchy nature. The local cultivars are preferred as threatened plant. In the recent studies, W. somnifera was mass propagated in vitro in a successful manner, habituated and compared with seed raised plants (De Silva, & Senarath, 2009).