1. Seed Research. 2007; 35(2):202-204.
Physiological maturity studies in Phyllanthus amarus
Schum and Thonn
Santhosh. S. Hipparagi, Rame Gowda and Vishwanath, K.
Department of Seed Science and Technology
University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore – 560065, India
ABSTRACT The field and laboratory studies on maturity in phyllanthus amarus were carriedout
at the Gandhi Krishi Vignana Kendra, the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore during
rabi 2002. The results of the study indicated that the seeds of phyllanthus amarus attained
maximum dry weight (136g) at 53-55 days after anthesis (DAA). At this stange fruits tuned to
brown color with moisture content of around (27.65%), the germination (88%) and vigour index
(625) were also highest indicating crop attained physiological maturity. For seed purpose under
Bangalore condition the Phyllanthus amarus needs to be harvested around 55 days after
anthesis.
In
Phyllanthus amarus is an important medicinal plant, widely used for the
treatment of jaundice kidney and urinary bladder ailments, diabetes and
dreaded hepatitis B virus. At present the seed production in this srop is not
being carried out in a systemic manner including the time of harvest. In order to
fix the optimum stage of harvest the present study was undertaken to
understand the development and maturation of seeds so that the fruits can be
harvested at right time to get higher seed yield and quality.
METERIAL AND METHODS
Phyllanthus amarus seed crop was raised during rabi 2002 at sanjeevini
vatika, Division of Horticulture, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore.
For the purpose around 400-500 flower buds of equal age in a net plot based on
appearance and size were tagged. Samples of fruits were drawn from the tagged
from the tagged flower buds, starting from 15days after anthesis till
physiological maturity at 5 days interval in the beginning and at 2 days interval
nearing physiological maturity. At each sampling 10 fruits in plot were
harvested to estimate the fresh and dry weight of seeds. The seeds were dried at
1030C for 7 h and then samples were taken out from the drying chambers, cooled
to room temperature and their dry weight was recorded. From the primary data
moisture percentage (by wet basis) in the seed were computed. Simultaneously
10 more developing fruits were collected at each sampling data for assessing per
cent seed germination. The fruits were hand shelled and seeds obtained were
dried in shade brought down their initial seed moisture content to around 12 per
cent and were subjected to laboratory germination on top of the paper at
25=0.50c and the per cent seed germination was recording of germination per
cent were continued till the seed attained physiological maturity.

2. Seed Research. 2007; 35(2):202-204.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The results obtained from maturity studies showed that under Bangalore
condition the seeds of phyllanthus amarus attained physiological maturity
around 55 days after anthesis ( Table 1 and Gif.1). The fresh weight of 1000
seeds reached a maximum of 190 mg at 51 days after anthesis, thereafter,
declined steadily. The reduction may be attributed to decrease in moisture of
seeds was maximum at 55 days after anthesis weightings136 mg per 1000 seeds
indicating that they become physiologically mature at 55 days after anthesis,
which was accompaniments by a change in pod color from green to brown.
Thereafterthe dry weight was consant and or decreased marginally indicating no
translocation in nutrients from mother plant to the seed, Similar trend was
noticed in senna and marigold.
The moisture content of the development seeds decreased gradually with
increase in the days after anthesisi. It was 77.8 per cent at 15 days after
anthesisi and decreased to 27.65 per cent at physiological maturity (i.e. at 55
days after anthesis). Kalavathi et al. (1998) have observed similar trend in seed
moisture content in senna seeds under coimbatore condition at 45 days after
anthesisi and by other earlier worker )4) in mustard.
The germination of the seeds in phyllanthus amraus started at 40 days
after anthesis with just 25 per cent germination and reached maximum (88%) at
physiological maturity (55 DAA) and thereafter there was slight decrease.
Similarly, root and shoot length (2.3 and 4.8 cm) and vigour index (625) qwere
also maximum at physiological maturity which indicate that seeds put up
maximum dry weight and possess maximum viability and vigour at physiological
maturity stage. Similar results were also obtained by earlier workers in the
seeds of Brinjal and chilli (5 and 6). From the present study it may be concluded
that the phyllanthus amarus may be harvested at 53 to 55 DAA as the seeds
harvested at the stage recorded better quality parameters and higher seed yield
(477kg/ha).

3. Seed Research. 2007; 35(2):202-204.
Table1. Effect different stages of picking on seed quality in bhumyamalaki (phyllanthus
amarus)
Stages of
Picking
(DAA)*
Fresh
weight
of
1000
seeds
(mg)
Dry
weight
of
1000
Seeds
(mg)
Moisture
Content
of
Seeds
(%)
Germination
(%)
Root
length
(cm)
Shoot
Length
(cm)
Vigour index
(Germination
X seedling
Length)
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
47
49
51
53
55
57
59
185
162
164
168
170
175
178
182
185
190
188
188
185
182
35
50
60
68
80
90
100
100
125
132
135
136
135
134
77.80
70.88
63.41
59.52
52.94
48.75
48.32
39.43
32.43
30.52
28.19
27.65
27.02
26.08
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
25.00
30.00
50.00
68.00
75.00
82.00
85.00
88.00
87.00
85.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.60
1.50
1.60
2.00
2.10
2.20
2.20
2.30
2.30
2.20
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
1.00
2.50
2.60
3.00
3.30
3.40
4.10
4.80
4.60
4.50
0
0
0
0
40
120
210
340
405
451
535
625
600
569
Mean
SEm±
C.D.
(P=0.05)
176
1
3
81
1
4
45.21
1.030
3.000
44.64
1.380
4.030
1.35
0.070
0.210
2.41
0.120
0.360
278
8
24
*DAA-Days after anthesis

4. Seed Research. 2007; 35(2):202-204.
REFERENCES
1. SHIVAKUMAR, C.M.,(2000), Effect of mother plant nutrition, plant density
and seed maturity on seed yield and quality of marigold. M.Sc. (Agri.) thesis,
submitted to the University of agricultural Scineces, Dharwad
2. VIKRAM, M.N., 1999, Seed development, maturation and seed germination in
senna. M.Sc. (Agri.) Thesis, submitted to the University of Agricultural Sciences,
Bangalore.
3.KALAVATI, D., T.V. KARIVARTHARAHU, A.ANANTH KALAISDVI, &
VIJAYA, J., 1998, seed development and maturation in senna. Seed Tech News.,
28(4):41.
4. VARSHNEY,SK., SINHA, S.K. and JHA, B.N., (2001), Physiological maturity
in Indian mustard. Seed Res., 29 (1) : 89-92.
5. JAYABHARATI, M., PALANISWAMY, V., KALAWATI, D. AND
BALMURAGAN, P., 1990, Influence of harvesting conditions on yield quality of
brinjal seeds. Veg. Sci., 17 (2): 113-118.
6. JAYARAMI REDDY, RAMRAO, G., NARASIMHA RAO, SUBBARAO, D.V.
AND MAHALAXMI, 2001, Studies on physiological maturity in chilli. Seed Res.,
29 (1): 93-94.

5. Seed Research. 2007; 35(2):202-204.