Effects of Aeschynomene histrix Poir. seed treatment on germination

Bignon Daniel Maxime Houndjo,Sébastien Adjolohoun,Marcel Houinato,Dourossimi Adam Adenile,Brice Augustin Sinsin

doi:10.25518/1780-4507.19268

Abstract

Description of the subject. Poor germination associated with physical dormancy was experienced in the legume Aeschynomene histrix Poir. seeds and can reduce the establishment and growth of this species. Objectives. To evaluate the effects of different pre-planting treatments, including digestion by Lagune cattle or other preplanting treatments on the germinability of A. histrix seeds. Method. The experiment was divided into three phases. Firstly, six Lagune cattle (three young bulls and three heifers) were fed individually with 1,000 seeds and these seeds were subsequently collected from faeces. Secondly, seed germination was compared among seeds defecated by cattle and seeds submitted to seven other pre-planting treatments: control (intact untreated seeds); seeds scarified using sandpaper; and seeds immersed in 80 °C-hot water for 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 min. Thirdly, we also assessed the effect of crumbling cattle faeces on A. histrix germinability. Results. The results show that Lagune cattle can disperse seeds of A. histrix with maximum recovery on the second day after ingestion. Of the number of seeds fed 13.42% were recovered. The germination percentage was greatest for sandpaper scarified seeds (96%) and seeds pre-heated during 2 min (86%), but least for digested seeds (4.27%). Breaking-down the dung doubled seedling emergence from digested seeds. Conclusions. As it is desirable to break dormancy of A. histrix seeds, the use of mechanical scarification using sandpapering or hot water scarification 80 °C at 2 min may be more beneficial than cattle digestion.

Highlights

The legume (Fabaceae) Aeschynomene histrix (Poir.) is used for pasture improvement in Benin (Tarawali et al, 1988; Peters et al, 1994; Merkel et al, 2000; Adjolohoun, 2008; Houndjo et al, 2019a)
Our study focused on four main questions: – are Lagune cattle acting as dispersal vectors for
Percentage of germinated seeds of A. histrix from the seeds recovered after passage through digestive tract of cattle significantly decreased, as the retention time increased from 48 h (9.16%) to 96 h (1.25%) (Tukey test, p < 0.05) (Table 2)

Summary

Introduction

The legume (Fabaceae) Aeschynomene histrix (Poir.) is used for pasture improvement in Benin (Tarawali et al, 1988; Peters et al, 1994; Merkel et al, 2000; Adjolohoun, 2008; Houndjo et al, 2019a). Researchers have noted that the hard seeds of many legumes species can be scarified after passing through the digestive tract of cattle, increasing germination capacity and speed (Pakeman et al, 2002; Campos et al, 2008). As it is desirable to break dormancy of legume seeds and contribute to the rehabilitation of degraded grassland in Benin, biological methods such as ingestion by Lagune cattle, mechanical scarification, or hot water treatment, may be of value (Ocumpaugh & Swakon, 1993; Rusdy, 2015; Houndjo et al, 2019b). A. histrix?; – how does seed retention time in the digestive tract affect seed germination?; – what is the efficiency of treatments with hot water and mechanical scarification on the germination of untreated seeds, compared to cattle digestion?; – how does breaking down the dung affect the seedling emergence of digested seeds?

Methods

Results

Conclusion