Carissa carandas is a hardy evergreen shrub native to India and Southeast Asia, known for its tart berries used in pickles and preserves. Seed germination is challenging due to hard seed coat dormancy but can be significantly improved with chemical pre-treatments.
Before sowing
Soak
24 h Water soaking beneficial; GA3 50 ppm for 1 hour or KNO3 2% soaking most effective
GA3 50 ppm (1 hour) highest germination 40.60%; KNO3 1-2% also effective; control germination 26.67%
Sowing
Substrate
Well-draining, fertile, sandy-loam soil with organic matter
Depth
0_5cm
Temperature
25°C
Moisture
media
Container
Seed tray or small pots
What to expect
Step 1
Pre-treat the seed
Step 2
Sow at 0_5cm · 25°C
Day 8–21
Seedlings emerge (~40%)
Tips
Keep soil moist and warm around 25°C; spray water every 2 days; transplant seedlings 4-6 inches tall; fruits bear within 2 years; GA3 and KNO3 treatments enhance germination and seedling vigor
Sources: ISHS International Symposium on Karonda (2024), Plant Science Today (2024), gardenvive.com, gardeningtips.in, ResearchGate studies on pre-sowing treatments
