Large cardamom seed remain dormant for six to eight months in field conditions. In
addition, poor and irregular germination is the major problem in nursery raising of large
cardamom. Different factors causing dormancy were studied in 2062/63-2063/64 at
Agricultural Research Station, Pakhribas and Seed Technology Research Division,
Khumaltar. Large Cardamom cv. Ramsahi was subjected to following hypothesis;
dormancy due to poor water permeability, poor oxygen exchange, presen_s;e- of water
soluble inhibitors, embryo immaturity or a combination of more than one factors. Hard
seed coat did not impose significant barriers to moisture uptake in large cardamom
seed. Different dormancy relieving treatments to test the above hypothesis differed
significantly in number of germinated seed placed in alternating temperature regime of
30°C and 200C for 8 and 16/:Jrs respectively. Earliest germination within 30 days was
I
observed in seed treated for embryo maturation and oxygen permeability and highest
percent germination (66%} was observed in the first four months in seed treated for
oxygen permeability. Seed treated for oxygen permeability after 3 minutes scarification
with uniform sized gravels when sown in nursery showed > 40% germination in field in
the first four months. It can be concluded that not one but the combination of above
mentioned factors are responsible for causing dormancy in large cardamom.

Large cardamom seed remain dormant for six to eight months in field conditions. In
addition, poor and irregular germination is the major problem in nursery raising of large
cardamom. Different factors causing dormancy were studied in 2062/63-2063/64 at
Agricultural Research Station, Pakhribas and Seed Technology Research Division,
Khumaltar. Large Cardamom cv. Ramsahi was subjected to following hypothesis;
dormancy due to poor water permeability, poor oxygen exchange, presen_s;e- of water
soluble inhibitors, embryo immaturity or a combination of more than one factors. Hard
seed coat did not impose significant barriers to moisture uptake in large cardamom
seed. Different dormancy relieving treatments to test the above hypothesis differed
significantly in number of germinated seed placed in alternating temperature regime of
30°C and 200C for 8 and 16/:Jrs respectively. Earliest germination within 30 days was
I
observed in seed treated for embryo maturation and oxygen permeability and highest
percent germination (66%} was observed in the first four months in seed treated for
oxygen permeability. Seed treated for oxygen permeability after 3 minutes scarification
with uniform sized gravels when sown in nursery showed > 40% germination in field in
the first four months. It can be concluded that not one but the combination of above
mentioned factors are responsible for causing dormancy in large cardamom.