GA(3) enhances in vitro seed germination in Santalum album

Emergence and Cultivation of Santalum album, an important tree species is reported to be poor and unpredictable as a result of low and delayed germination. The present paper describes a quick and reliable method that ensures fast and uniform seed germination of S. album. The endocarp was removed under aseptic conditions and the seeds pre-treated with 2, 4, 6 and 8 mM gibberellic acid (GA(3)) for 12 h, then inoculated on Murashige and Skoog's (MS) medium fortified with or without 2.0 or 4.0 mu M benzylamino purine (BA). The imbibition of seeds in 4 mM GA(3) not only improved final germination to 80.67% in 30 days as compared to 46% germination in non-treated seeds, but also reduced mean germination time. The presence of 4.0 mu M BA in the MS medium improved the germination even further. Polyembryony was observed in about 2 to 3% seeds. Even though the S. album is considered as a hemi-root parasite, the resultant saplings were maintained for about two years in the absence of host. The technique can effectively be used for raising large numbers of saplings in a relatively short time.