Seed germination of Albizia procera (Roxb.) Benth. in Bangladesh: a basis for seed source variation and pre-sowing treatment effect

Abstract

An experiment in seed morphology and seed germination techniques of Albizia procera was carried out in the nursery of the Forestry and Wood Technology Discipline, Khulna University, Bangladesh in order to discover the source variation in seeds and pre-sowing treatment effects on seed germination. Mature seeds of A. procera were collected from healthy trees in home garden plantations from five different districts in Bangladesh and treated with four pre-sowing treatments, i.e., control, immersion in cold water (4°C for 24 h) and immersion in hot water (80°C for 10 min and 100°C for 1 min). The average length, width and thickness of seeds were calculated as 0.502 ± 0.485, 0.420 ± 0.060 and 0.191 ± 0.118 cm, respectively. Germination was conducted in poly-bags with a mixture of topsoil and cow dung in a ratio of 3:1. The results revealed that pre-sowing treatments affected the rate of germination of seeds, which significantly increased the germination percentages of seeds in hot water treatments compared with those in control (60.60%) and the cold water treatment (4°C for 24 h, 63.53%). The highest germination success was 82.07% in the treatment of immersion in hot water (80°C) for 10 min, followed by 79.00% in immersion in hot water (100°C) for 1 min. Germination started 4 to 6 days after seed sowing and completed in a period of 22 to 25 days in all treatments. ANOVAs showed statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) in seed germination starting dates, closing dates, germination percentages and rates of germination among treatments, but no significant differences in seed germination starting dates, closing dates, germination period, germination percentages and rates of germination among the seed sources. The study also revealed that the interaction between seed source variation and treatment effect significantly differed in seed germination starting dates, closing dates, germination percentages and rates of germination. The hot water (100°C for 1 min) treatment is recommended for seed germination of A. procera in rural Bangladesh.