Abstract
The thick, hard and water-impermeable seed coat cause physical dormancy and low germination rate in Albizia lebbeck (L.), to overcome this physical dormancy, seeds were pretreated with concentrated HCl and cold mist condition. Immersing seeds in concentrated HCl acid 37% for 30 and 45min effectively raised seed germination rate (35.56% and 46.67%) respectively as compared to control treatment (15.56%). Cold mist storage at 5◦C for 4 and 8 weeks also significantly increased germination percentage (51.11% and 68.89%) respectively. Furthermore, the combination of cold mist stratification for 8 weeks and immersion in HCl for 15min boost the germination rate to 75.56% an increase of 59.90% comparing to control treatment. For seedling parameters, all treatments have positive effects on the studied characters highest seedling height (37cm) and number of leaves per plant (18 leaves) where found in, 8 weeks cold mist condition, however, the combination of 15min acid scarification and 8 week cold mist stratification resulted in higher leaves area (207.52). Acid scarification and cold mist stratification both increased germinations and improved seedling features, but germination rates were highest and fastest when these treatments were applied together. The results suggest that to enhance seedling qualities, seed germination rate and speed, a combination of scarification and stratification should be used.
Highlights
Albizia lebbeck L. is a deciduous fast growing tree, attain an average maximum height of 8 to 15m, with a thin spread crown, native to tropical Asia, belongs to Mimosaceae family, the leaves are bipinnate, 7.5–15cm long with 1 to 4 pairs of pinnae, each pinna with 6–18 leaflets
This study aims to determine the effectiveness of acid (HCl) scarification and cold mist stratification on breaking down the dormancy and increasing germination rate of Albizia lebbeck (L.) tree seeds
The results revealed that HCl scarification accelerates the speed of germination significantly and decrease the time to 50% of seed germination of Albizia lebbeck (L.) from 84 days for the control to 70 days for immersed in HCl acid for 45 minutes
Summary
Albizia lebbeck L. is a deciduous fast growing tree, attain an average maximum height of 8 to 15m, with a thin spread crown, native to tropical Asia, belongs to Mimosaceae family, the leaves are bipinnate, 7.5–15cm long with 1 to 4 pairs of pinnae, each pinna with 6–18 leaflets. A. lebbeck (L.) multi-purpose tree has the ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen that improves the chemical structure of the soil, drought resistant, and provides shade (Faisal et al, 2012) The tree has been suggested as an ornamental and plantation tree throughout the tropics (Parrotta, 2002), used in home gardens, parks and roadsides It grows in a wide range of climates including an annual rainfall range of 600- 2500 mm. While the species is adapted to different soil types, from acid soils to alkaline and saline soils, the tree grows best on well-drained, moist soils (Prinsen, 1986) The seeds of this family have impermeable seed coat (Al-Menaie et al, 2010). As well as acid scarification treatment of species with hard seed coats is known to be highly effective in improving induce germination (Youssef, 2008; Kobmoo and Hellum, 1984)
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