Physical seed dormancy in Abrus precatorious (Ratti): a scientific validation of indigenous technique
Seeds of Abrus precatorius L. (Fabaceae) were used as weight measure by Indigenous people. Where, the seeds were referred as Ratti; a traditional Indian unit of mass measurement. Seed weight fluctuates depending upon age, moisture, storage-period/conditions. Therefore, use of seeds as a weighing uni...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Cambridge University Press
2021-01-01
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| Series: | Experimental Results |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2516712X20000647/type/journal_article |
| _version_ | 1811156332362858496 |
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| author | Rajender Kumar Sharma Ali Bajwa |
| author_facet | Rajender Kumar Sharma Ali Bajwa |
| author_sort | Rajender Kumar Sharma |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Seeds of Abrus precatorius L. (Fabaceae) were used as weight measure by Indigenous people. Where, the seeds were referred as Ratti; a traditional Indian unit of mass measurement. Seed weight fluctuates depending upon age, moisture, storage-period/conditions. Therefore, use of seeds as a weighing unit become dubious and need to be validated. For this purpose, seeds of A. precatorious were subjected to different moisture conditions and periodically monitored. Surprisingly, there was no change in seed weight was observed, indicating the impermeability of seed coat. The later was confirmed by scarification of seed coat which resulted in 53% increase in seed weight against 0% in control. Further, presence of a potent toxin (abrin) in the seed coat protects it from pests and microbes, and contributes to the maintenance of impermeability for longer period of time. The data validates the use of A. precatorious seeds as a weighing unit (ratti) by the indigenous people and discussed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T04:48:38Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c270bdec06fb4e8990e9d71ad03a01fd |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2516-712X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T04:48:38Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Experimental Results |
| spelling | doaj.art-c270bdec06fb4e8990e9d71ad03a01fd2023-03-09T12:34:18ZengCambridge University PressExperimental Results2516-712X2021-01-01210.1017/exp.2020.64Physical seed dormancy in Abrus precatorious (Ratti): a scientific validation of indigenous techniqueRajender Kumar Sharma0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4267-417XAli Bajwa1Department of Botany, Deshbandhu College, University of Delhi, Delhi 110019, IndiaNSW Department of Industry, Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia, 2650Seeds of Abrus precatorius L. (Fabaceae) were used as weight measure by Indigenous people. Where, the seeds were referred as Ratti; a traditional Indian unit of mass measurement. Seed weight fluctuates depending upon age, moisture, storage-period/conditions. Therefore, use of seeds as a weighing unit become dubious and need to be validated. For this purpose, seeds of A. precatorious were subjected to different moisture conditions and periodically monitored. Surprisingly, there was no change in seed weight was observed, indicating the impermeability of seed coat. The later was confirmed by scarification of seed coat which resulted in 53% increase in seed weight against 0% in control. Further, presence of a potent toxin (abrin) in the seed coat protects it from pests and microbes, and contributes to the maintenance of impermeability for longer period of time. The data validates the use of A. precatorious seeds as a weighing unit (ratti) by the indigenous people and discussed.https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2516712X20000647/type/journal_articleAbrus precatoriousITK-validationPhysical dormancy |
| spellingShingle | Rajender Kumar Sharma Ali Bajwa Physical seed dormancy in Abrus precatorious (Ratti): a scientific validation of indigenous technique Experimental Results Abrus precatorious ITK-validation Physical dormancy |
| title | Physical seed dormancy in Abrus precatorious (Ratti): a scientific validation of indigenous technique |
| title_full | Physical seed dormancy in Abrus precatorious (Ratti): a scientific validation of indigenous technique |
| title_fullStr | Physical seed dormancy in Abrus precatorious (Ratti): a scientific validation of indigenous technique |
| title_full_unstemmed | Physical seed dormancy in Abrus precatorious (Ratti): a scientific validation of indigenous technique |
| title_short | Physical seed dormancy in Abrus precatorious (Ratti): a scientific validation of indigenous technique |
| title_sort | physical seed dormancy in abrus precatorious ratti a scientific validation of indigenous technique |
| topic | Abrus precatorious ITK-validation Physical dormancy |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2516712X20000647/type/journal_article |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT rajenderkumarsharma physicalseeddormancyinabrusprecatoriousrattiascientificvalidationofindigenoustechnique AT alibajwa physicalseeddormancyinabrusprecatoriousrattiascientificvalidationofindigenoustechnique |