Seeds of Trichilia emetica were subjected to 3 types of physical seed coat scarification, i.e. unscarified, partial removal of seed coat at radicle end, and complete removal of seed coat. These treatments were combined in a factorial arrangement with gibberellic acid at 5 concentrations: 0, 250, 500, 750 and 1,000 ppm, and replicated 4 times. Unscarified seeds without and with gibberellic acid attained cumulative germination of up to 40%. Partial and complete removal of seed coat resulted in over 90% germination. Application of gibberellic acid to both unscarified and scarified seeds produced marginal but significant effects on cumulative germination, germination value and germination energy. Application of gibberellic acid to seeds whose seed coat had been completely removed resulted in complete emergence of all seeds sown. Observations indicate that the poor germination associated with T. emetica seeds is due mainly to the impermeability of the seed coat and aril to fluids (water and gases). It is recommended that the seed coat of T. emetica seeds be partly or completely removed before sowing.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1080/01435698.1988.9752851Altmetric score:
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Publication year
1988
Authors
Language
English
Keywords
gibberellic acid, seed germination, trichilia emetica
