In-Vitro Studies on the Germination of Atropa belladonna Seeds under Different Conditions

Atropa belladonna contains tropane alkaloids and a raw material for pharmaceutics industry. Large scale cultivation of Belladonna is carried both by bulb and seeds. Seeds are usually sown during the first half of March and it take almost 3 months for germination and hence farmers prefer bulbs of belladonna for cultivation. Prolong germination of seed is due to seed Dormancy. Dormancy is a mechanism to prevent germination during unsuitable ecological conditions, when the probability of seedling survival is low. The present investigation was carried out to improve germination percentage of Atropa belladonna seeds by different Scarification methods. Mechanical and Chemical Scarifications were carried on seeds of belladonna. Both mechanical and chemical methods significantly stimulated seed germination in varying percentage. Seeds were germinated on full strength M S media with or without GA3 under invitro condition. Maximum germination was obtained by Acid treatments and also by boiling water treatments. Hard impermeable Testa of the seeds was successfully broken by above Scarification treatment and even insufficient germinating hormones were also supplied for good germination percentage in present investigation.