SEED-GERMINATION STUDIES IN 3 SPECIES OF THREATENED, ORNAMENTAL, HIMALAYAN POPPY, MECONOPSIS VIG (PAPAVERACEAE)

The effects of temperature, light, soil extract, seed burial, growth r egulators (GA(3), IAA, kinetin) and storage conditions on the percenta ge seed germination of three species of Meconopsis - M. paniculata, M. simplicifolia and M. villosa - were studied. Seeds of populations of M. paniculata and M. simplicifolia germinated best with 100 mg l(-1) G A(3) under a 10 h light regime at 20 +/- 2 degrees C. However, seeds o f M. villosa did not respond to similar treatment. There was a marked interspecific variation in seed weight, moisture content, water uptake , and seed protein and tannin content. The tannin content in seeds was positively correlated to their dormancy. These results suggest that: (i) all the Meconopsis populations, irrespective of their habitat pref erences, have similar kinds of dormancy; (ii) the dormancy cannot be b roken by temperature, light or darkness or a combination of all the th ree; (iii) the varying periods of storage at different temperatures ha ve no effect on breaking of dormancy; (iv) in the presence of light GA (3) can break the dormancy; and(v) the storage of seeds at 4 degrees C is an effective mode of ex situ conservation of germplasm of Meconops is.