INHIBITION OF GERMINATION IN NYCTANTHES ARBOR-TRISTIS (OLEACEAE) BY PERICARP

The seeds of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis are dispersed in indehiscent cap sules. The germination of intact seeds was inhibited by the pericarp a nd its removal resulted in early and enhanced germination. Depending o n the year of harvest, the ratio of whole capsule to seed germination varied and was 2 to 5 times less than the extracted seed. Pericarp was found to have a greater affinity for moisture and restricted its avai lability to the embryo during initial phases of germination. No one pa rticular factor, however, was found to be responsible for dormancy and a combined effect of pericarp restricting moisture or possibly oxygen availability to the embryo and presence of inhibitors in the pericarp appear factors responsible for the inhibition of the germination.