SEED PROPAGATION OF RATH HADUN (Pferocarpus santalinus Linn.) AS EFFECTD BY METHOD OF SOAKING AND SCARIFICATION

Red Sandalwood (Pterocarpus santalinus Linn.) is an evergreen tree species grownunder semi dry climates in well drained lateric soils. The reddish and fragrant heartwoodhas a range of medicinal, pharmaceutical, industrial and timber and economically placedin the same category as tusk and amber. The Red heartwood contains a range ofconstituents including santalin (Santalic Acid), Santaol, Pterocarpin, Homo-Petrocarpinand reported to have anticoagulant, anti inflammatory, anti expectorant, anti pyretic, antibacterial and anti tumor properties. Expensive natural fabric paint produced from thepowdered Red heartwood is used in wood carving of prestigious nature. The naturalhabitat of Red Sandalwood is India which is extensively exploited to the point of nearextinction, thus placing it in the red list of endangered species under IUCN guidelinesThere is only a limited number of Red sandalwood trees in Sri Lanka, which werebrought from India. Therefore, conservation and multiplication of Red sandal wood is oftimely importance. Even though a single tree of Red Sandalwood produces severalthousands of seeds, there is no single seedling under the tree. The local requirement ofRed Sanders is met partly by Indian suppliers while substitutes with similar medicinalproperties (Rath Kehiriya) are also being used.Two separate pot experiments(Complete Randomized Design with three replicates) wereconducted to study the seed germination as affected by method of soaking andscarification. Fully matured brown coloured fresh seeds were used for the experimentsand viability of the seeds used for the experiment was 70 to 72 %. Three differentsoaking methods (i.e. 24 hours dipping in normal water, 24 hour soaking in runningwater, alternatively soaked in running water for 12 hrs. followed by 12 hours of dryingfor 14 days) and again differentiated with scarification and without scarification wereused as treatments. Total germination percentage was counted up to 14 daysResults revealed that Seed germination was significantly higher (P>0.05) in scarifiedseeds (48.8%) when compared to those without scarification (6.1%). With regards to thesoaking method, highest germination percentage (3 1%) was observed in the treatment,12 hrs of alternate soaking and drying in running water for 14 days, which was notsignificantly different from the treatment that seeds were soaked in running water for 24hrs. Therefore it can be concluded that germination of Red Sandalwood seeds could besubstantially enhanced by scarification of the seed coat and seeds soaked in runningwater for 24 hrs. as well as 12 hrs of alternate soaking and drying for 14 days.