Hyderabad: A message circulating on social media urges people to do their bit for the environment by dispersing seeds of seasonal fruits such as mango, jamun and jackfruit on an open land instead of throwing them away in the rubbish bin. But experts believe this is a trial and error method.
Such an experiment had been carried out to disperse the seeds of the Prosopis tree, but the success depends on whether the seeds are thrown onto the right kind of soil, as well as weather and other conditions.
Dr V Raj Shekar Tummala, senior scientist and ecologist, said, “The seeds of summer fruits (the botanical term for which is drupe) can germinate if thrown on barren land and a bit of care is taken before they are disposed. The seed, especially hard ones like mango, jamun and jackfruit, must be soaked in water. Or apply .plant growth promoter’ (available in the market). The seed coats must be removed before they are sown,” he advises.
Seasonal fruit seeds will sprout if grown in porous soil, where the humus or top layer of soil has nutrients. “In an earlier exercise, people threw the seeds at Shamshabad and Shamirpet. But it should be kept in mind that the seeds should not get dispersed or carried away by the wind. Some may get intermixed with the sand and won’t germinate. However, every plant has its own cycle. If we plant them well, they will survive till the onset of the monsoons. Seeds need water but not in excess, otherwise they will rot,” said Dr Tummala.
Fruit trees grown from seeds take around eight to 10 years to bear fruit, while grafted fruit tree saplings available in nurseries grow faster.
