Effect of acorn collection procedure and their characteristics on germination and early seedling growth of ban oak (Quercus leucotrichophora A.Camus) in Tehri Garhwal region of Uttaranchal, India

The effect of acorn collection procedure and their characteristics on germination and early seedling growth in Quercus leucotrichophora was studied. The ground collected (freshly fallen) acorns showed 60.75 per cent germination as compared to 47.44 per cent germination of crown collected acorns. The acorns which sank in water resulted in 64.38 per cent and those floated gave only 43.82 per cent germination. The acorns with cups gave 58.82 per cent germination in comparison to 49.38 per cent germination of acorns without cups. The collar diameter, seedling dry weight, seedling vigour index and quality index except sturdiness ratio was significantly higher in sunken acorns. Thus, irrespective of collection methods, sunken acorns should be used to obtain higher germination, dry weight, seedling vigour index and quality index.