The Effect of Seed Sources Variation and Presowing Treatments on the Seed Germination ofAcacia catechuandElaeocarpus floribundusSpecies in Bangladesh

Niamjit Das

doi:10.1155/2014/984194

Abstract

The seed germination of seed sources and presowing treatments ofAcacia catechuandElaeocarpus floribundusseeds were conducted in the nursery of Bangladesh Agricultural University. The seeds were collected from matured and healthy trees from four different locations in Bangladesh and treated with six presowing methods. The germination test was conducted in polybags with a mixture of topsoil and cow dung in a ratio of 3 : 1. The results of ANOVA showed no significant differences among seed sources but statistically significant differences among the presowing treatments for both species. Thus the presowing methods affected the germination process of seeds, and then the highest germination success was found to be 91.26% in hot water (80°C for 10 min), treatment inAcacia catechuand the highest germination success (89.81%) ofElaeocarpus floribunduswas found in H2SO4treatment followed by 86.35% and 78.42% in treatments with hot water (100°C for 12 min) and scarification. The study also revealed that the interactions between seed source variation and presowing methods effect significantly differed in seed germination percentages. Therefore, it is concluded that hot water treatment can be suggested on seed germination of both species for developing nurseries and rural Bangladesh.

Highlights

Seeds provide the most natural resources of plant reproduction, preservation of genetic variability, transportation, and propagation of flora
There were six presowing methods in the experiment as follows: (S1) control; (S2) seeds immersed in hot water (80∘C) for 10 min, followed in cold water soaking for 24 h; (S3) seeds immersed in cold water (4∘C) for 24 h; (S4) seeds immersed in hot water (100∘C) for 12 min, followed by cold water soaking for 24 h; (S5) seeds immersed in concentrated H2SO4 (80%) for 20 min; (S6) scarification with sand paper
Germination started somewhat earlier from the seeds originating in L2 for Acacia catechu and Elaeocarpus floribundus than from other sources (Table 2)

Summary

Introduction

Seeds provide the most natural resources of plant reproduction, preservation of genetic variability, transportation, and propagation of flora. Several internal factors cause dormancy which includes seed coat, embryo, or inhibitors, which influence the seed germination rate [2] To overcome these factors, different pretreatment methods have to be adjusted to individual species and seed lots depending on the type of plant species and dormancy. Physical dormancy is caused due to water-resistant seed coat or fruit enclosure which stops imbibition and sometimes gaseous exchange. It may be overcome either by pretreatment methods of scarification of the seed coat by piercing, nicking, clipping, filing, or burning with the aid of knife, needle, hot wire burner, or abrasion paper [3]; by hot water treatment [4, 5]; or by acid treatment [4]

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