Research Journal of Recent Sciences ________________________________________________ ISSN 2277 - 2502
Vol. 1(ISC-2011), 320-322 (2012)
Res.J.Recent.Sci.

Short Communication

Effect of seed size and weight on seed germination of Alangium
lamarckii, Akola, India
Ahirwar J. R.
Department of Botany, Govt. College Niwari Dist. Tikamgarh, MP, INDIA

Available online at: www.isca.in
(Received 10th October 2011, revised 7th January 2012, accepted 24th January 2012)

Abstract
The present study was undertaken to examine the effect of seed size and weight on seed germination of Alangium lamarckii
Thwaites. The data revealed that the large size seeds gave maximum (76.00%) germination followed by medium size (74.00%) and
small size seeds characterized by low germination percentage (59.00%). It is evident that the germination percentage significantly
declined with reduction in size and weight of the seeds.
Keywords: Seed size and weight, seed germination, Akola.

Introduction
Alangium lamarckii Thwaites is generally known as Akola
belongs to the Family Alangiaceae (old Family- Cornaceae).
It is a small deciduous rambling shrub or small moderate tree
with grey bark. Normally it attains the height about 3-10
meter and girth up to 0.50 meter which grows in the greater
parts of India. It is a common tree found in almost every
corner of Chhattisgarh1. Akola holds a reputed position as
medicine in different systems of medicine in India.
The seed size is a considerable and significant factor in the
germination and early stage of plant growth2,3. Different size
of seeds having different levels of starch and other food
storage may be one factor which influences the expression of
germination and growth of the plants4.
The main purpose of seed grading is to understand the better
physiological quality of the seed lot. Grading of seed based
upon their size and weight is a common practice in a majority
of plant species as it has been found to regulate the
germination and subsequent seedling growth in many
species. It is considered necessary to know the effect of seed
size and weight in the seed germination, so as to get healthy
seedling of plant species for a purpose of transplantation in
the field. Hence, an attempt has been to analyze the effect of
size and weight of seed on seed germination of this plant
species. The works on this aspect has been carried out by
great number of workers5-15.

Material and Methods
To study the effect of seed size and weight on seed
germination of Alangium lamarckii, the cleaned and fresh
seeds were then brought in laboratory. They were grouped

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into three categories consisting of (i) Large (ii) Medium (iii)
and Small size based on the length, width and weight of
seeds as presented in table-1. Seed weights were taken by
using the electronic balance and size (Length and width) was
measured using vernier calipers. The seeds of each category
were sown in well prepared nursery beds. After starting the
seed germination, the seed germination data was recorded the
date of first emergence up to final germination.

Results and Discussion
Seed size and weight affect the seed germination invariably.
The germination studies were conducted with three classes of
seed size significantly affected germination response under
normal condition in laboratory/ seed bed. The results
presented in table-2 and figure-1 as affected by the seed size
that revealed the large size seeds gave maximum (76%)
germination followed by medium size (74%) and small size
seeds characterized by low germination percentage (59%).
Days taken to initiate and complete the germination of seeds
varied in different seed sizes. The minimum emergence time
taken 11 to 20 days by small sized seed, 11 to 18 days by
medium sized seeds and 10 to 18 days by large sized seeds.
It is evident from table-2 that the germination percentage
significantly declined with reduction in size and weight of
the seeds. The observed results with regard to seed
germination are in concurrence with increase in germination
with increase in seed size and weight have reported in tree
species like Hardwickia binata 13 and Abies pindrow 16. The
similar results have been observed in Pongamia pinnata seed
germination5. In contrast to the present studies, the higher
germination with heavy seeds of various trees have been
reported by11,15,17,18,19. However, smaller size seeds
germinated better in Cassia fistula L., Cassia hybrida L.,

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Research Journal of Recent Sciences ____________________________________________________________ ISSN 2277 - 2502
Vol. 1(ISC-2011), 320-322 (2012)
Res.J.Recent.Sci
Acacia holosericea L. and Acacia concinna20. Heavy and
large seed contains more food reserves than smaller ones,
which is helpful in germination by providing more energy21.
Table -1
Seed size and weight of Alangium lamarckii
Length
Breadth
Weight
Size group
(cm.)
(Cm.)
(gm.)
Small
≤ 10mm
≤ 7.5mm
≤ 0.500gm
Medium
Large

11mm15mm
≥ 16mm

7.6-10mm
≥ 10mm

11

Large

10

18
18

1.

Oudhia Pankaj, Ankol (Alangium lamarckii) as
medicinal herb in Chhattisgarh India, Botanical.com,
(2001)

2.

Girish B., Shahapurmath G.R., Kumar A.K.K. and
Ganiger B.S., Effect of seed size and depth of sowing on
seed germination in Sapindus trifoliatus, My Forest, 37,
483-489 (2001)

3.

Indira E.P., Chand Basha S. and Chacko K.C., Effect of
seed size grading on germination and growth of Teak
(Tectona grandis) seedlings, J. Trop. For. Sci., 12 (1),
21-27 (2000)

4.

Wood D.W., Longden P.C. and Scott R.K., Seed size
variation, its extent, source and significance in field
crops, Seed Sci. Technol., 2, 337-352 (1977)

5.

Arjunan M.C., Antony K.A. and Ponnammal N.R.,
Effect of seed size on germination, viability and seedling
biomass in Pongamia pinnata Pierre, Van Vigyan, 32,
23-28 (1994)

6.

Dar Farooq Ahmad, Gera Mohit and Gera Neelu, Effect
of seed grading on germination pattern of some
multipurpose tree species of Jammu region, Indian
Forester, 128 (5), 509-513 (2002)

7.

Kumar Devendra, Effect of seed size on germination and
seedling performance during storage of neem
(Azadirachta indica A. Juss) seeds, Indian Forester, 133
(9), 1198-1206 (2007)

8.

Mertia R.S. and Kunhamu T.K., Seed germination trial
on Salvodora obeoides Decne, Journal of Tropical
Forestry, 16 (1), 50-62 (2000)

9.

Mutha Neena, Burman Uday, Tiwari J.C. and Harsh
L.N., Effect of seed weight on germination and seedlings
quality of Prosopis juliflora (SW) DC, Annals of
Aridzone, 33 (3), 253-254 (1994)

0.5011.000gm
≥ 1.000gms

Table-2
Effect of seed size and weight on seed germination of
Alangium lamarckii
Initiation of Completion of Germination
Size group
germination Germination
(%)
(Days)
(Days)
Small
11
20
59.00%
Medium

References

74.00%
76.00%

80%
70%

Germination (%)

60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Small

Medium

Large

Seed size as per Table-1&2

Figure-1
Effect of seed size and weight on seed germination of
Alangium lamarckii

Conclusion
From the present work it can be concluded that the size and
weight of seeds significantly affect the seed germination. The
large size seeds showed better germination as compared to
medium and small size seeds. Thus the size and weight of
seeds may be helpful to improve the seed germination of
Alangium lamarckii.

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10. Nagarajan M. and Mertia R.S., Effect of Seed Size and
sowing depth on germination and seedling growth of
Colophospermum mopane (Kirh ex Benth) Kirt ex J.
Leon, Indian Forester, 132 (8), 1007-1012 (2006)
11. Negi A.K. and Todaria N.P., Effect of seed size and
seed weight on germination pattern and seedling
development of some multipurpose tree species of
Garhwal Himalaya, Indian Forester, 123 (1), 32-36
(1997)

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Research Journal of Recent Sciences ____________________________________________________________ ISSN 2277 - 2502
Vol. 1(ISC-2011), 320-322 (2012)
Res.J.Recent.Sci
12. Ponnammal N.R., Arjunan M.C., Gunamani T. and
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pindrow ), Van Vigyan, 30, 104-106 (1992)

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