Research Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 8 (11) November (2013) Res. J. Biotech 32 Role of Fungi and Fungal Extract on Strychnos Potatorum Seed Germination Srikanth Kagithoju, Althaf Hussain Sk, Vikram Godishala and Rama Swamy Nanna* Department of Biotechnology, Kakatiya University, Warangal- 506 009, INDIA *Swamynr.dr@gmail.com Abstract Strychnos potatorum seeds have slow and erratic germination, thus seed priming methods like treatment with fungi and fungal extract were applied to enhance the germination efficiency. In the present investigation, two dominant seed mycofloral members - Aspergillus niger, Pencillium citrinum were isolated and identified from fallen fruits using blotter paper method. The role of these fungal members and their extracts individually and in combinations in germination was investigated. Germination efficiencies were increased with use of fungi and fungal extracts. More percentage (65%) of germination was found when P. citrinum culture extract was used than in control seeds (45%) followed by in both fungal extracts combination (62%). Infestation with these fungal members individually or in combination or treatment with extracts resulted in the decrease in dormancy period and increased the germination. The present findings clearly showed that seeds are facultative dependent on fungal members as they showed germination even in the absence of fungi but with less efficiency. These two fungal cultures and fungal extracts hence can be used for breaking seed dormancy and enhancing germination percentage in S. potatorum which is endangered and medicinally important. Thus, this pre treatment method can be adopted for in situ conservation of S. potatorum. Keywords: Seed priming method, Seed mycoflora, Culture extract, Seed dormancy, Strychnos potatorum. Introduction Seed germination is a process by which a zygotic embryo develops into a seedling which takes place after reactivation of the metabolic pathways that leads to growth and the emergence of the radical and plumule. Many environmental factors can affect seed germination like light intensity, day length, night length, light color, water, water quality, gravity, crowding, temperature, nearby plants (by chemical agents), genetics, oxygen availability, seed condition, seed age, seed coat condition, seed size and other environmental conditions. Some plants require obligatory or symbiotic association with some microorganisms. This is due to the fact that these microbes have the ability to produce some metabolites which may break dormancy and induce germination by softening the seed coats and cotyledons, degrading the germination inhibiting compounds or by producing plant growth promoting substances like phytohormones. These beneficial microbes may reach the seeds through different ways like water, air, soil etc. The ability of microorganisms to synthesize phytohormones is well known 9,28. Producers with the highest activity enter into association interactions with plants which may have pathogenetic or symbiotic consequences. Bacteria, micromycetes and algae form phytohormones of auxin, cytokinin or gibberellin nature 28 . On the other hand, microorganisms also synthesize other phytohormones and phytohormone-like substances including ethylene and abscisic acid (ABA), brassinosteroids, oligosaccharines, salicylic acid, jasmonic acid. For obligatory dependence of seeds on microbes especially on fungi for their germination, Orchidaceae family plants are considered as the best example which require mycorrhizal fungi like Rhizoctonia 23 and myco- heterotrophic plants of Ericaceae : Sarcodes sanguinea and Pterospora andromedea 6 . The seeds of these plants require Rhizopogon spp. (Basidiomycota) for proper germination. In this association, the fungal members release some diffusible chemicals which serve as signals for promoting seed germination 6 . As with these Ericaceous, myco-heterotrophic plants, dormant seeds of remarkably small size often receive chemical stimulants from specific hosts or other biotic and/or abiotic chemical sources 12, 15, 31 while some plants awaiting dormancy breakage for seed germination in seed banks in the soil often require biological and/or physical decomposition of the seed coat. 5,29 Strychnos potatorum Linn. F (Fam: Loganiaceae) is commonly known as Grape Strychnos or Clearing nut tree or Katakam. The ripe seeds are used for clearing muddy water. The seeds are reported to have polysaccharides which are responsible for their coagulant nature and hence are used in removal of suspended impurities from coal washery wastes and also utilized in paper and textile industries. 1,3 Various pharmaceutically and industrially important compounds were isolated from seeds of S. potatorum. 14,24,25 Due to such pharmaceutical, commercial and industrial importance, the plant is over exploited and hence disappearing rapidly 27 .