Variability in Seed Morphology, Germination, and Seedling Growth of Madhuca indica: Implications for Seed Source Selection

“We present here the results of an in-depth analysis of the morphometric traits and germination capacity of the seeds of 19 Mahua (Madhuca indica) germplasm collected from diverse sources in India.” The study encompasses an exploration of seed morphometric traits, germination parameters, and growth characteristics. The investigated traits exhibited notable variability. Noteworthy variations were observed in the weight of 100 seeds, ranging from 346 to 800 g, seed length spanning 4–2.5 cm, and seed diameter varying between 1.92 and 1.41 cm. Germination percentages ranged from 73.6 to 46%, while survival percentages showed a range of 88.6–71%. Regarding growth parameters, the study documented seedling height and seedling basal diameter. Seedling height ranged from 12.25 to 12 cm, while seedling basal diameter varied from 5.12 to 2.3 cm. All evaluated characteristics exhibited significant heritability, with survival percentage demonstrating the highest heritability at 89.54%, and seed diameters displaying the lowest at 67.74%. Furthermore, substantial phenotypic coefficient of variability was observed, indicating substantial diversity within the studied germplasms. This variability underscores a valuable opportunities for meticulous screening and selection of optimal seed sources. The findings of this study contribute to comprehensive understanding of Mahua germplasms and their potential applications.