PROJECT PROPOSAL

1. Title of Project Improvised Seed Cube technology for rapid

reforestation programmes

2. Location Institute’s Name : Tamil Nadu Agricultural University

Place : Coimbatore
District : Coimbatore
State : Tamil Nadu
Deptt/Division : Tree Breeding and Genetics
Actual Location (Location of : Forest College and Research Institute
research work to be carried
out)
3. Principal Investigator :
Name : Dr.R.Umarani
Designation : Professor (Seed Sci & Tech)
Date of Birth : 10.06.1968
Experience : 2 3 Yrs 10 Month
s
Number of Projects Handled : Two
List of Important Publications (30 Chrs each):
1. UMARANI, R., A.BHARATHI and T.V. KARIVARATHARAJU. 1996. Effect of seed
treatments on storage life of Casuarina equisetifolia. Journal of Tropical Forest
Science, 10(1): 18-23.
2. UMARANI, R., A. BHARATHI, T.V. KARIVARATHARAJU and K.VANANGAMUDI. 1996.
Effect of drupe maturity on seed germination and seedling vigour in neem. Journal
of Tropical Forest Science, 9(2): 147-150.
3. UMARANI, R., A.BHARATHI and T.V.KARIVARATHARAJU.1997.Effect of seed size and
depth of sowing on germination and seedling growth of Casuarina equisetifolia.
Journal of Tropical Forest Science, 10(2): 275-276.
4. VANANGAMUDI, K., MALLIKA VANANGAMUDI, A. VENKATESH, R. S. VINAYA RAI, R.
UMARANI and S. BALAJI. 2000. Effect of osmotic priming on seed germination and
vigour of neem. (Azadirachta indica). Journal of Tropical Forest Science, 12(1):
181-184.
5. UMARANI, R. and K. VANANGAMUDI. 2002. The effect of specific gravity separation
 on germination and biochemical potential of Casuarina equisetifolia seeds. Journal
of Tropical Forest Science, 14 (2): 207 – 212.
6. VENKATASUBRAMANIAN, A. and UMARANI, R. (2007), Evaluation of seed priming
methods to improve seed performance of tomato (Lycoperison esculentum), egg
plant (Solanum melongena) and chilli (Capsicum annum) .Seed Sci. & Technol., 35,
486-492
7. NIRMALA, K. and UMARANI, R. (2008), Evaluation of seed priming methods to
improve seed vigour of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) and beetroot (Beta vulgaris).
Seed Sci. & Technol., 36, 56-65.
8. SELVARANI, K. and UMARANI, R. (2011). Evaluation of seed priming methods to
improve seed vigour of onion (Allium cepa cv. aggregatum) and carrot (Daucus
carota).. J. Agric. Technology, (7)3, 857-867.

9. NIRMALA, K and UMARANI, R. 2014. Storage potential of primed seeds of okra

(Abelmoschus esculentus) and beet root (Beta vulgaris) Australian J.Crop Science.
8(9):1290-1297.

Review articles
1. R. Umarani, E. Kanthaiya Aadhavan and M. Mohamed Faisal. 2015. Understanding
poor storage potential of recalcitrant seeds. Current Science , Vol. 108 (11.), 2023-
2034

2. R. Umarani, R. Jerlin and M. Tilak. 2015. Ecological adaptations of seeds governing

forest regeneration. Ecology and Environment Conservation. 21(Suppl) pp. S497-
S511.

4. Objectives (in brief) :

1. To standardize the species specific seed dormancy breaking techniques to
obtain early and uniform germination of seed in selected tree species
2. To standardize the species specific seed enhancement techniques to obtain high
seed germination and early seedling vigour of important tree species
3. To standardize the ‘seed cube technology’ for precision sowing, sustained
nutrient availability, enhanced rhizosphere microbes and higher water
retention in seed zone to ensure vigourous growth of seedlings
4. To evaluate the emergence and seedling establishment of seed cube in 1 acre of
 fallow land during monsoon with assisted water spraying

6. Practical / Scientific Utility :

1. The ‘seed cube technology’ will enable sowing of seeds ‘invigourated through
advanced seed coating and seed priming technology and embedded in
specifically developed ‘seed cubes’ fortified with sustainable nutrient and
hydrogel substances’ which will ensure high seedling emergence and
establishment percentage .

2. The seed cubes can be used for ariel sowing, during south-west monsoon
(June-July). The emerging seedlings will be able to utilize both south-west
(June-July) and north-east monsoon (Oct-Dec) and register higher percentage
of seedling emergence and establishment.

3. The new technology will be highly useful to implement rapid reforestation

programmes with native tree species , rapidly at a considerably low cost.
7. Research Work conducted
Research Work done :
Seed Coating:

TNAU Seed Coating Formulation consists of an adhesive, pigment, stabilizer and a

growth promoter in a biologically effective composition. Experiments with TNAU Seed
Coating Formulation has put forth that seed coating with specified dosage has the
potential to improve the seed germination and seedling vigour in 21 crops. Further, it
also enhanced the drought tolerance in black gram when grown in lower IW/CPE ratio
irrigation. The technology has been commercialized to a private company for large
scale production and distribution to farmers by signing of MoU on 15.3.18 between
TNAU and Ms. Vriksha Agro Ventures, Coimbatore

Seed Priming : It is seed invigouration technology to obtain higher seed germination

and seedling vigor. It is a process of soaking of seeds in water for specific period
dependent on crop species and incubating them in dark, humid conditions for specific
period to initiate the Phase I and Phase II of seed germination process. Subsequently,
the seeds will be dried back to original moisture content. These seeds when sown in
the field will register higher seed germination and seedling vigour (Faizal , 2014).
 Humid invigouration of coated seeds results in increased improvement in seed
germination and seedling vigour.

Standardization of media for seed cubes

Sustainable nutrient additives:

CULTURE experiments which we have carried out with peas have shown that yeast extract—
prepared by heating yeast in water—stimulates to a remarkable extent the development of
blossoms. In these experiments, the plants were grown either in sterile culture fluids ( pH 6.5)
or in quartz sand, watered with Hiltner's nutriment solution. Nitrogen was supplied to the
plants either in the form of nitrates or by inoculating the seed with active bacterial strains.
When suitable amounts of yeast extract were used, the test plants started blooming 5–10
days earlier than controls (test-plants 20–25 days, controls about 30 days after sowing). The
number of pods was invariably some 50 per cent greater when the plants were given yeast
extract.

Water retention additives:

Superabsorbent polymers (SAP) are a class of polymers that are able to absorb large amounts
of water, typically more than traditional absorbent material (Esposito et al., 1996). Generally
they consist of a network of polymer chains that are cross linked to avoid dissolution. Usually
there are ionic functional groups along the polymer chains to encourage diffusion of water
within the network (Raju et al., 2003). Super absorbents have been used as soil additives to
increase the water retention of soils, which can replace peat, the traditional moisture retention
aid for soil (Barbucci et al., 2000). Generally SAPs are applied to the soil at a concentration
between 0.1 to 0.5% by weight (Buchholz and Graham, 1998). Below this range, the effect of
the soil additive is negligible, and above this range the soil can become too spongy when it is
fully saturated. Miller (1979) suggested that the performance of superabsorbent polymers as a
water retaining additive is greater in soils that are well draining such as sand.
8. Technical Programme :
IDENTIFIED TREE SPECIES

S.No COMMON NAME SCIENTIFIC NAME

1. Neem Azadirachta indica

2. Teak Tectona grandis

3. Vagai Albizia lebbek

4. Pungam Derris indica

5. Puvarasu Thespesia populnea

6. Karuvel Acacia nilitica

7. Velvel Acacia leucophloea

8. Tamarind Tamarindus indica

9. Thoongu moonji Albizzia saman

10. Bamboo Bambusa anundinacea

11. Kodukaipuli Inga dulce

12. Perunkondrai Peltophorum pterocarpus

13. Kadukkai Terminalia chebula

14. Thandrikkai Terminalia bellerica

15. Ilandhai Zizyphus mauritiana

16. Kalakkai Carissa carandas

Experiment I: Standardization of seed dormancy breaking treatments for obtaining

higher seed germination of selected tree species

Seed dormancy is broadly classified into five types

S.No Type of dormancy Cause Effective Treatments

1. Physical dormancy Hard seed Cold water soak
coat Hot water soak
Mechanical scarification
Acid scarification
 2. Chemical Presence of Leaching of inbibitors in
dormancy inhibitors on running water
seed coat Soaking and drying
3. Physiological ABA in Soaking in GA3
dormancy embryo Cold stratification
4. Morphological Immature Soaking in GA3
dormancy embryo Warm stratification
5. Combinational Two or more Depends on the combination
dormancy types
combined

TREATMENTS

I. The seeds of the selected species will be subjected to imbibition and

ascertained for the occurrence of hard seed coat.

II. Non imbibed seeds will be categorized as hard seeds and standardization of
respective treatments will be taken up

III. Imbibed seeds will be subjected to repeated soaking and drying to explore the
possibilities of chemical dormancy.

IV. Rest of the seeds will be subjected to GA 3 soak. Seeds with very small embryos
will be subjected to warm stratification, and other seeds will be subjected to
cold stratification to eliminate morphological and physiological dormancy ,
respectively.

V. Dosage of GA3 , will be decided based on repeated germination tests

Observations
1. Days to initial germination
2. Days to final germination
3. Speed of germination
4. Germination percentage
5. Root length (cm)
6. Shoot length (cm)
7. Dry matter production (mg/10 seedling)
8. Vigour index

Experiment II: Standardization of optimum dosage of TNAU seed coating formulation

for obtaining higher seed germination and seedling vigour of selected tree species

The seeds of selected species will be subjected to standardized dormancy

breaking treatments. Later these seeds will be subjected to seed coating with TNAU
Seed Coating formulation in differential dosages as mentioned below. The coated seeds
will subjected to seed germination test under raised bed conditions under shade net to
evaluate the seedlings for the following parameters.
Treatments

Treatments Seed Coating dosage

T1 Control
T2 3 g Kg-1
T3 4 g Kg-1
T3 5 g Kg-1

Observations
1. Speed of emergence
2. Days to 50% emergence
3. Days to 100% emergence
4. Seed germination (%)
5. Root length (cm)
6. Shoot length (cm)
7. Dry matter production (g/10 seedling)
8. Vigour index

Experiment III: Standardization of seed humid priming technique for obtaining higher
seed germination and seedling vigour of selected tree species

Treatments

Seeds of selected species will be soaked for 12 h and subjected to humigouration

technique as described below.

Seeds will be coated in TNAU seed coating formulation (Karthi,2017) as

described above. The Coated seeds will be subjected to seed invigouration through
humid priming technology (Fsaizal,2014). Humid priming involves two steps: i) soaking
of coated seeds loosely tied in cloth bag, in water ii) The bags are kept in containers on
dunnage and lids are covered. Covered containers should provide dark, humid
environment (12 or 24 h) to facilitate completion of early phases of seed germination,
enabling invigouration of seeds iii) Drying of seeds to original moisture content

TREATMENTS
T1- Control seeds
T2- Seed coating + humid priming – 8 h
T3- Seed coating + humid priming – 12 h
T4- Seed coating + humid priming – 16 h
T5- Seed coating + humid priming – 24 h

Observations
1. Speed of emergence
2. Days to 50% emergence
3. Days to 100% emergence
4. Seed germination (%)
5. Root length (cm)
6. Shoot length (cm)
7. Dry matter production (g/10 seedling)
8. Vigour Index

Experiment IV: Development of comprehensive media composition for enhanced

water retention and sustainable nutrient availability of seed cubes

The optimum composition of media for preparation of seed cubes will be

standardized by evaluating the following differential composition.

Treatments

Components % of component
T1 T2 T3
4 1 Soil 55 55 60
2 Coconut fibers 5 10 10
3 Vermicompost 10 10 10
4 Cocopith 25 15 5
5 Water 5 10 15
seeds will be embedded in each seed cube which will be prepared by using rice gruel
fortified with organic nutrients such as beef extract, yeast extract and peptone, which
favour the growth of rhizosphere microorganisms.

Observations
1. Speed of emergence
 2. Days to 50% emergence
3. Seed germination (%)
4. Root length (cm)
5. Shoot length (cm)
6. Dry matter production (g/10 seedling)
7. Vigour index

Experiment IV: Evaluation of germination and seedling establishment of tree

seedlings from Seed Cubes

The seeds of selected tree species will be subjected to previously standardized i) seed
dormancy breaking treatments ii) seed coating treatments iii) seed humid priming
treatments and embedded in seeds cubes prepared with pre-standardized media
composition @ 3-4 seeds / cube, depending on the seed germination per cent

The seeds cubes of different tree species will be mixed and sown in ONE ACRE of
identified fallow land @ 3 cubes / m 2 during the onset of monsoon. The newly
emerged seedlings will be sprayed with water with boom sprayer during the evenings ,
in case there is failure of monsoon.

Observations

Seed cubes performance

1. Germination percentage @ 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5 , 6 @ MAS
2. No. of seedlings / m2 @ 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5 , 6 @ MAS
3. Seedling height (cm) @ 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5 , 6 @ MAS
4. No. of leaves @ 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5 , 6 @ MAS
5. Leaf area index @ 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5 , 6 @ MAS
6. Chlorophyll content @ 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5 , 6 @ MAS
7. Seedling survival percentage @ 6 MAS
9. Deliverable

1. Seed cube technology will be developed for mass afforestation programmes in

farms, fallow lands, waste lands, tanks bunds, hillocks and forests.

2. Seed cubes can be produced in Forest College and Research Institute or by any
other NGOs and supplied to schools, colleges and public to encourage mass
afforestation
10. Budget :
Item I yr Total
Rs. (Lakhs)

Technical Asst. (2) @ 2.88 2.88

Rs.6000/-pm
Mini Seed Cube Making 2.00 2.00
machine
Seed coating machine 0.10 0.10
Sealing machine 0.05 0.05
Rat Proof Germination 0.50 0.50
beds
Platform Weighing 0.20 0.20
balance
Digital weighing balance 0.75 0.75
Wall mounted Storage 1.00 1.00
cabinets
Humid priming chamber 0.50 0.50
Recurring contingencies 5.00 10.00
TA & POL 2.00 4.00
TOTAL 14.88 14.88

Signatures

Principal Investigator: Dr.R.Umarani,

Professor (Seed Science and Technology)

Co PI: Dr.K.Kumaran,
Professsor and Head (Tree Breeding and Genetics)

Co PI: Dr. M.Tilak,

Assistant Professor (Agri. Microbiology)

Co PI: Dr. S.Vennila,

Assistant Professor (Forestry)

Professor and Head

Dean (Forestry)