Abstract
The effectiveness of three pre-germination treatments in breaking dormancy of the seeds of Dialum guineense and effects of three watering regimes on the growth performance of the seedlings were investigated. The pre-germination treatments were: soaking in hot water for 10 seconds and cooling down in cold water (T1), soaking in cold water for 24 hours (T2), soaking in running water for 48 hours (T3) and control (T4), while watering regimes include: watering once daily in the morning (W1), watering once every two days in the morning (W2) and watering once every three days in the morning (W3). The results showed that germination occurred first at 5 days after sowing (5 DAS) among the seeds soaked in cold water for 24 hours before sowing (T2), while the untreated seeds (control) took the longest period of 12 days before germination occurred. T1 had the highest germination value of 49.6% while T3 had the least of 31.2%. The effects of watering regimes were found to be significantly different on stem-collar diameter, leaf area and total dry weight (P 2 and W3 supported the best growth performance. It is concluded from the results that T2 should be adopted for breaking the dormancy of Dialium guineense seeds and watering interval of three days would not dispose the seedlings to water-stress.
Highlights
The benefits of forest in the provision of arrays of products and services of great importance to man’s survival and balanced development have been recognized
Tropical rainforests are stocked with many tree species that produce copious edible, highly nutritious and medicinal fruits, seeds, leaves, twigs nuts and bark which are of socio-economic importance [2]
The first germination was recorded at 5 days after sowing (5 DAS) from the seeds soaked in cold water for 24 hours (T2)
Summary
The benefits of forest in the provision of arrays of products and services of great importance to man’s survival and balanced development have been recognized. Natural forests, in the tropical region, are complex ecosystem. They have great diversity of tree species with different uses. One of the fundamental and indispensable needs of man provided by forests is food. This is the benefits that have been ignored in the past and are currently being eroded as forests in many parts of the world are cleared and the remaining trees on farmlands come under increasing pressure [1]. The essential ecological and silvicultural information needed on the trees includes flowering and fruiting patterns, seed germination and growth requirement to facilitate domestication and improvement of their potentials
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