CHARACTERISTICS OF LITCHI SEED-GERMINATION

Seed germination of four Litchi chinensis Sonn, cultivars ('Deshi', 'K asba', 'Purbi', and 'Early Bedana') was studied under various conditio ns, viz, in soil beds exposed to sunlight or in shade, in sand beds ex posed to sunlight or in shade, and on moist filter paper. Among all, s haded, humid sand at 35 +/- 2C gave the highest germination, Delaying sowing seeds after removal from the fruit significantly reduced germin ation, Litchi seeds held in polyethylene bags up to 4 days at 37 +/- 2 C at 90% relative humidity delayed loss of seed viability, Germination was improved by ethephon in 'Deshi' and 'Early Bedana', by IBA in 'De shi' and 'Purbi', and by 100 mM GA(3) in all litchi cultivars, Cultiva rs responded differently to growth regulators, with 'Deshi' responding significantly better than 'Purbi','Kasba', or 'Early Bedana'. These s tudies point to the recalcitrant nature of litchi seeds, Chemical name s used: gibberellic acid (GA(3)); indole butyric acid (IBA); 2-chloroe thylphosphonic acid (ethephon).