Cone, seed and germination characteristics in silver fir (Abies pindrow Spach) under Kashmir valley conditions

Mature cones of Silver fir (Abies pindrow) were collected from phenotypically superior trees at four different sites viz. Sind forest division(S1), Lidar forest division (S2), Tangmarg forest division (S3) and Kehmil forest division (S4)) in Kashmir valley during mid-Oct. Significant variation in cone characteristics were revealed. The site (S3) produced the quality cones with maximum cone length (11.05 cm), cone diameter (4.42) cone weight (87.18g) and seed yield per cone (344/cone). The seed characteristics of this site, at dispersal revealed maximum germination percent (39.50) and germination value (4.67) whereas the mean germination time (MGT) was recorded as 21.9 days. The seeds collected from this site recorded maximum seed weight/1000 seeds (87.18g).Stratification increased seed germinability characteristics and maximum germination percent and germination value (GV) was recorded after 60 days of moist stratification and were recorded as 38.00 and 5.07 respectively. The MGT significantly declined from 25.24 (control) to 23.08 days (60 days stratification). Among the selected sites, site A3 resulted in maximum germination percent (35.00), GV (3.81) with MGT of 22.78 days (minimum).