Exploring Seed Dormancy Focussing on Medicinal Plants: A Comprehensive Review
T. Mullai
Department of Seed Science and Technology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, India.
K. Malarkodi *
Department of Seed Science and Technology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, India.
G. Sasthri
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, India.
M. Visalakshi
Department of Medicinal and Aromatic plants, Horticultural College and Research Institute, Coimbatore, India.
T. Anand
Department of Plant Pathology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, India.
S. Kavitha
Centre for Students Welfare, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
This review explores the complex field of studies on medicinal plants during dormancy, aiming to provide a comprehensive overview of research findings and methodologies. Dormancy, a crucial physiological phase in the growth stage of plants, plays a master role in regulating growth, development and survival strategies. In medicinal plants, understanding dormancy is of paramount importance due to its implications for cultivation, propagation and the production of some compounds that are in high demand for pharmaceutical industry. This review focuses on methodologies in dormancy research, elucidating the underlying mechanisms and exploring strategies to manipulate dormancy for enhanced medicinal plant cultivation and utilization. Furthermore, it discusses the challenges in dormancy studies, highlighting the potential for novel approaches and interdisciplinary collaborations to unravel the complexities of dormancy and harness its benefits in medicinal plant research and industry.
Keywords: Hormones, physiology, regulation, scarification, secondary metabolites, stratification