STORABILITY AND PRE-SOWING TREATMENTS OF AFRICAN STAR APPLE (CHRYSOPHYLLUM ALBIDUM G. Don) SEEDS

Abstract

Chrysophyllum albidum is a prominent, indigenous, economic fruit tree species found in compound farm agro-forestry systems . Investigation was conducted to overcome difficulty in germination and storability of C. albidum seeds in the forest nursery of Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria. The trial employed a 3x3 factorial experiment with three replications laid out in a completely randomized design to determine the effect of seed coat treatments including clipping at 2mm from distal, circumference and micropyle end; dipping in 10% sulphuric acid and no seed coat treatments and durations of seed storage 1, 5 and 9 days on the germination of C. albidum seeds. Pre-sowing and storage treatments significantly (p < 0.05) affected the germination of seeds. Percentage germination ranged from 17% to 61% for clipping to no seed coat treatment. Highest germination of 61% was recorded for seeds not pre-sowed. The percentage germination ranged from 16% to 60% for seeds stored for nine days to those stored for one day. Highest germination of 60% was recorded for seeds stored for one day. A significant (p < 0.05) decrease in percentage germination was recorded with increasing days of storage. The result of interaction effect revealed that highest germination of 86% was recorded for seeds stored for 5days without pre-sowing treatments. Storing of seeds for 5days is recommended for mass production of C. albidum seedlings in agro-forestry nursery.