Seed Germination Behavior Research Articles

Morphological Variations and Germination Behaviour of Seeds of Four Fodder Tree Species

The study was conducted for the morphological and germination behavior of four fodder tree species viz., Gmelina arborea, Sesbania grandiflora, Moringa oleifera and Bauhinia purpurea under nursery conditions. The experiment was carried out at the nursery of the ICFRE Eco-Rehabilitation, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, during April 2021 and different germination parameters viz., germination percent, survival percent, germination capacity, germination energy, vigour index, mean daily germination and mean germination time along with seed morphological parameters were studied in four replications. The highest seed length and width was recorded in B. purpurea (17.57 mm ± 2.79) and (13.38 mm ± 1.95) respectively, seed thickness in M. oleifera (10.92 mm ±1.39), the highest seed weight was recorded in G. arborea (65.95 gm ± 0.79). Seeds of S. grandiflora recorded highest germination percent (83.42%), seedling vigour index (762.30), mean daily germination (6.41) and germination index (66.11), highest seed germination capacity value (84.90%), seed germination value (52.50%), highest survival of seedling value (96.16 %) among three other fodder species despite being the smallest seed size. Such an investigation may help in developing conservation strategies in nursery conditions and fodder availability during lean period.

Germination of aspidosperma discolor a. Dc. Under Different light and Temperature Conditions

Theoretical framework: Among the genera of the Apocynaceae family found in Brazil, Aspidosperma is among the most important, because of its high medicinal and economic value. Objective: The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of white, far-red, and red light, and the absence of light; as well as the effects of constant temperatures of 25 ºC, 30 ºC and 35 ºC, on seed germination behavior of Aspidosperma discolor A. DC. Method: The material was collected in Atlantic Forest fragments. The germination percentage, speed index, average time and average seed germination speed were evaluated. A completely randomized design was used, and the means were compared by the Tukey test at 95% probability. A 4 x 2 factorial arrangement was used for the evaluation of the light regime (four light regimes and two origins); and for the thermal influence, a 3 x 2 arrangement (three temperature levels and two origins) was employed. Each test had five repetitions with 20 seeds. Results: The results showed that the seeds of both origins presented preferential or neutral photoblastic behavior, with better germination performance at 25 °C. However, they had total germination inhibition when exposed to 35 ºC.

Comparison of the Differences in Tolerance to Drought Stress across Five Clematis Species Based on Seed Germination and Seedling Growth

Plants of the Clematis genus are attractive ornamental plants due to their various flower colors and patterns, and they play an important role as ground cover plants in landscaping. However, the application of Clematis plants in landscaping in arid and semi-arid areas is limited. This study used five common wild Clematis species in Gansu Province as experimental materials, including Clematistangutica, Clematis glauca, Clematis intricata, Clematis nannophylla, and Clematis fruticosa. By simulating different intensities of drought stress with polyethylene glycol (PEG), the germination behavior of seeds and the physiological and biochemical responses of seedlings of these five species to drought stress were observed. The results showed that 15% PEG stress significantly inhibited the seed germination of the five species, which was also the drought threshold for seed germination of C. fruticosa. C. tangutica exhibited the strongest tolerance to drought stress in seed germination. Seedlings of the five Clematis plants showed different levels of tolerance to drought stress, mainly demonstrating higher tolerance to 10% and 20% concentrations of PEG stress, while a 30% concentration of PEG stress caused varying degrees of damage to the seedlings of the five Clematis species. PCA analysis indicated that seedlings of C. intricata and C. glauca had higher scores under drought stress. These findings can provide a theoretical basis for the selection of urban landscaping plant species in arid and semi-arid regions of northwest China.

Effect of Seed Extraction Period and Germination Temperature on Viability of Pinus patula Under Controlled Conditions

A number of coniferous species have demonstrated varied cone responses to the temperature intensities for seed release and subsequent seed germination behaviour. This study investigated the interactions of cone physical characteristics (weight and width), exposure duration (6,12 and 24 hours) at a fixed extraction temperature (65°C) and the germination temperature (22, 27 and 32°C) on seed quality of Pinus patula. The experimental design was a factorial experiment (4×3×3) laid down in a completely randomized design (CRD), with thirty-six treatments replicated 3 times. Analysis of the difference in means from the three factor effects from ANOVA was performed using R Statistical software. Where significant differences were observed, post hoc tests were carried out to separate means using the Tukey test at 5 % significance level. Results showed significant (p=0.001) differences in germination performance as a result of cone characteristics, extraction exposure periods, and germination chamber conditions. Seeds extracted from heavy cones and exposed to germination temperature of 32℃ demonstrated the highest germination percent at 90% while the lowest was 20% from light cones exposed to similar germination temperature conditions. Negative and significant correlation coefficients were observed in germination of seeds from narrow and light cones, thus cone sorting for heavy and wide cones was recommended for better germination performance of P. patula seed germplasm.

Properties, Storage and Germination Behavior of Seeds of <i>Berberis tinctoria</i> Lesch., an Endangered Medicinal Plant from Shola Forests of Western Ghats, India

Properties, Storage and Germination Behavior of Seeds of <i>Berberis tinctoria</i> Lesch., an Endangered Medicinal Plant from Shola Forests of Western Ghats, India

Genetic mining of desirable alleles for transgenerational stress memory through enhancing drought adaptation in wheat

Plant memory refers to the phenomenon where past environmental experiences influence the responses of plants to current/future events. Drought stress has a mostly significant negative impact on wheat, which is a vital crop for global food security. In the context of germination, plant memory can manifest as 'transgenerational priming', where mother plants exposure to drought stress alters the germination behavior of the next-generation seeds. Therefore, our study aimed to explore the genetic factors underpinning transgenerational drought tolerance in wheat using a diverse collection of 111 by the Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS). In the seed germination test, all genotypes had higher Germination Percentage (G%) and Germination Pace (GP) from seeds of Stressed Plants (OSP) than those of Non-Stressed Plants (ONP) by 16% and 29%, respectively), indicating that Transgenerational Stress Memory (TSM) may manifest through appearing to possess a more persistent stress memory. For root length, OSP had a greater Root Length (RL) than ONP by 45%, suggesting a more highly developed root system in the OSP seeds. The time at which TSM manifests during the plant life cycle could reflect disparate strategies of TSM duration among genotypes from OSP and ONP. Genetic associations of TSM showed highly significant QTNs for all of the studied traits. For instance, a highly significant QTN (BS00068042_51) located on chromosome 2B at position 107,381,860 bp inside the gene TraesCS2B02G140800 encodes Cytochrome P450 (CYPs) that was found to be associated with the traits of FW and SMC for OSP. CYPs play a significant role in wheat response to environmental stresses. Therefore, further research into the specific alleles/candidate genes and their functions in wheat transgenerational stress memory will provide valuable insights for developing strategies to enhance drought tolerance in wheat crops through genetic manipulation or targeted interventions.

Effects of salinity and UV-B on seed germination behaviour of the halophyte Zygophyllum album L.: Enforced dormancy and trade-off strategy

Understanding the behavior of halophyte seed germination under multiple abiotic stressors is crucial for restoring salt-affected lands. Zygophyllum album L. (syn. Tetraena alba (L.f.) Beier & Thulin) is a perennial halophytic species that spreads in the coastal ecosystems of Mediterranean areas. Halophytes' seed germination indices concerning the influence of UV-B remain unexplored in scientific investigations. We provide here data on the effects of salinity (0, 100, 200, and 400 mM NaCl) and light (total darkness, 12 h dark/12 h light, and 12 h dark + 9 h light + 3 h UV-B) on seed germination, seedling growth parameters, antioxidant enzymes, histochemical localization of O2−, and anatomical parameters of Z. album. The germination percentage was not significantly decreased under low and medium salinities (100 and 200 mM NaCl), but germination was entirely inhibited at 400 mM NaCl. Also, seed germination was reduced significantly under the combined treatment of 200 mM NaCl and UV-B light. The germination rate was significantly decreased at low salinity in darkness and under moderate salinity with all light treatments. However, the highest germination recovery was recorded under combined salinity and UV-B treatments. At the seedling stage, salinity reduced biomass and seedling length under all light treatments. Additionally, combined UV-B with salinity treatments had a negative synergistic influence on all growth parameters. On the other hand, the increase of catalase and peroxidase activities, as well as the accumulation of druses and idioblasts under combined treatment, suggest a trade-off between the growth of this species and its defense mechanisms. These results indicate that Z. album has a moderate tolerance to both salinity and UV-B stresses during germination, highlighting its significance as a potential source for reclaiming salt-affected lands and cultivating crops under future climate changes.

Acid Rain and Seed Germination: A Predictive Model Using ML-based CART Algorithm

The impact of acid rain on the germination of seeds is a significant concern in agricultural and environmental studies. Acid rain, characterized by elevated acidity levels due to pollutants like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, can adversely affect the germination process of various plant species. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of simulated acid rain (SAR) on the germination of Brinjal (Solanum melongena Linn.) and Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata ssp. cylindrica L. Walpers) crops. The experiments were conducted using eight plastic trays of approximately 25 cm. x 30 cm dimensions. Four trays were used for experiments with brinjal seeds (Set I), while the other four were used for cowpea seeds (Set II). One tray from each set was used as positive control and treated with normal pH 5.6, while the other three trays from each batch were treated with SAR solutions of pH 4.5, 3.5, and 2.5. Brinjal seed germination percentage and seed vigor were inferior to Cowpea seeds. The seeds treated with SAR (pH 4.5, 3.5, and 2.5) showed hindered seed germination. Furthermore, a more significant inhibitory effect was observed at lower pH values. The mean germination percentage of seeds was highest for standard SAR (pH 5.6) in the case of Brinjal seeds, while it was recorded lowest for Cowpea seeds. The results indicate that plants do not respond uniformly to SAR. To investigate the behavior of the simulated acid rain data, a Machine Learning-based Decision Tree Algorithm was employed to identify and optimize conditions. Cowpea was predicted to get 95% seed germination, whereas brinjal would only be 64% in acid rain of pH value 5.05 for 36 hours. In conclusion, utilizing a Machine Learning-based CART algorithm has provided valuable insights into predicting the germination behavior of seeds under the influence of acid rain.

Impact of Pre-Sowing Physical Treatments on The Seed Germination Behaviour of Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor)

In the emerging global food scenario, sorghum is a healthy cereal crop used by human beings and has been recognized to have considerable potential to be used in a variety of food products. Germination is a natural processing technique used for the biological activation of grains to improve their nutritional and functional properties. In order to improve the germination of grains, different techniques have been established; therefore, the current study was conducted to analyze the effect of ultrasound and microwave techniques on sorghum grain germination parameters. Overnight steeped sorghum grains were divided into four groups. The first group was not subjected to any treatment. The second group was subjected to ultrasonic treatment, the third group was exposed to microwave treatment, and the fourth group was treated with combined MW & US applications for different intervals. Germinated grains were measured for the shoot length and root length, total weight, germination %, seedling vigor index, and the ratio of root length versus shoot length. It was found that ultrasound-processed treatment US1 (40% amplitude for 5 min) and microwave-processed treatment MW2 (700 W for 5 sec) significantly improved the germination parameters. Pre-sowing physical techniques cause disturbance of the seed coat, which enabled water diffusion into the seeds inducing a higher rate of enzymatic reactions, and the start of the initial development stages consequently resulted in faster and more effective germination.

Seed Germination Behavior, Molecular Analysis of Four Populations of Arbutus andrachne Species from Greece, and Cultivation Practice for Producing High-Quality Plants

Arbutus andrachne, the Greek strawberry tree, is an evergreen shrub or small tree in the family Ericaceae native to the Mediterranean basin, and is a valuable phytogenetic resource. In the context of sustainable exploitation of A. andrachne, four Greek natural populations of species were selected and a detailed germination protocol, molecular analysis, and cultivation practices were reported herein for the first time. The 1 month period of cold stratification or the treatment with gibberellic acid resulted in similar patterns of seed germination over a wide temperature range for all four populations. Differences among the four populations were observed in five of six morphological traits measured in 1-year-old seedlings. The 2-year-old plants grown in plastic bags (2.26 L in volume) showed superior growth rates. Foliage, but not roots, of 2-year-old seedlings supplemented with mineral fertilizers had higher fresh masses than untreated seedlings. The four A. andrachne accessions exhibited more genetic variability within than among populations.

Effect of environmental factors on seed germination and seedling emergence of Viola prionantha, a cleistogamous plant.

Environmental conditions during seed development and maturation can affect seed traits and germination behavior, yet systematic research on the effects of seed maturation time on seed traits, germination behavior and seedling emergence of cleistogamy plants is lacking. Here, we determined the difference in phenotypic characteristics of CH and CL (namely CL1, CL2 and CL3 based on maturation time, respectively) fruits/seeds that were collected from Viola prionantha Bunge, a cleistogamous perennial plant, and evaluated the effects of various environmental factors on seed germination and seedling emergence. The fruit mass, width, seed number per fruit and mean seed mass of CL1 and CL3 were greater than that of CH and CL2, while seed setting of CH was lower than that of CL1, CL2 and CL3. Germination of CH, CL1, CL2, and CL3 seeds was < 10% in the dark at 15/5 and 20/10℃, whereas germination (0%-99.2%) of CH, CL1, CL2, and CL3 seeds changed significantly under light conditions. In contrast, more than 71% (from 71.7 to 94.2%) germination of both CH, CL1, CL2 and CL3 seeds occurred under both light/dark conditions and continuous darkness at 30/20℃. Germination of CH, CL1, CL2 and CL3 seeds was sensitive to osmotic potential, but CL1 seeds were more resistant to osmotic stress, compared with CH, CL2 and CL3. Seedling emergence of CH seeds was more than 67% (from 67.8 to 73.3%) at a burial depth of 0cm-2cm, while all types of CL seeds were below 15% at a burial depth of 2cm. Information gathered from this study indicates that CH and CL seeds of V. prionantha were different in fruit size, seed mass, thermoperiod and photoperiod sensitivity, osmotic potential tolerance and seedling emergence, especially, maturation time significantly affect phenotypic characteristics and germination behavior of CL seeds matured at different periods. These results indicate that V. prionantha adapts to unpredictable environmental conditions by developing a variety of adaptation strategies, and ensures the survival and reproduction of the populations.

Onion (Allium cepa L.) seed germination affected by temperature and water potential: Hydrothermal time model

A useful implement for seed ecological studies is quantifying the germination behavior against variable environmental conditions. The influences of temperature and water potential on the germination response of onion seeds can be described by using the thermal time (TT), hydrotime (HT), and hydrothermal time (HTT) models. The germination behaviour of onion seeds (Allium cepa L.) was studied over a range of constant temperatures and water availability. The efficiency of hydrothermal time models was evaluated by the germination parameters for two onion cultivars (‘Sepidan’ and ‘Zargan’). The onion seeds were germinated in the laboratory over a water potential range from 0 to − 1 MPa at 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40 °C. Final germination dropped with decreasing water potential, particularly at water potential less than − 0.2 MPa. The model analysis indicated that the dynamics of seed germination was generally well described by the TT model within water potential less than − 1 MPa (R2 = 0.69–0.97), HT (R2 = 0.94–0.99), and HTT models (R2 = 0.95–0.96). The Dent-like was found to be the best model to predict germination rate (RMSE = 0.00006, and 0.000133, R2 = 0.98, and 0.97 for ‘Sepidan’ and ‘Zargan’, respectively). The base, sub-optimum, supra-optimum and the ceiling temperatures for onion seed germination were estimated − 2.5, 19.3, 29.8, and 39.3 °C for ‘Sepidan’ and 0, 25.19, 27.37, and 42.39 °C for ‘Zargan’ at 0 MPa. Thermal time constants were 2650 and 3329.67 °C.h at − 0.8 MPa and 1602.83 and 1521.44 °C.h for ‘Sepidan’ and ‘Zargan’ seeds at 0 MPa. Hydrotime constants for ‘Sepidan’ and ‘Zargan’ seeds were 115.54 and 128.037 MPa.h at 5 °C and 20.8 and 26.93 MPa.h at 30 °C. Hydrothermal time constants for ‘Sepidan’ and ‘Zargan’ seeds were 1249.792 and 1122.78 MPa.°C.h.

Studies on germination behaviour of Rubus ellipticus seeds collected from different seed sources in Himachal Pradesh, India

A seed germination trial was conducted to study the germination behaviour of Rubus ellipticus seeds collected from different sources in Himachal Pradesh. Significant differences were observed in the germination per cent of seeds collected from different sources. The maximum germination of 84.00% was recorded in seeds collected from the Darlaghat source whereas the minimum germination of 59.00% was recorded in seeds collected from Bharan in Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh. The seeds collected from Shoghi recorded the highest moisture content of 6.46% whereas the minimum moisture content of 5.39% was recorded from seeds collected from Joharji in the Solan district. The maximum seed weight of 0.07 g (100 seeds) was recorded in seeds collected from Joharji, whereas, the minimum seed weight of 0.05 g was recorded in seeds collected from Beolia in the Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh. It is recommended on the basis of the present investigation that seeds of R. ellipticus be collected from the Darlaghat seed source in Solan district for the raising of seedlings in the nursery owing to better germination.

Response of Indian Cultivar of Isabgol on Halopriming under the Saline Condition

Soil salinity is one of the major abiotic stresses that strongly affect seed germination in agriculture. In order to fulfill the need of demand in agriculture, seed priming is one of the promising techniques that enhance seed germination and uniformity. Isabgol, one of India’s important medicinal crops, has a low germination rate. In Gujarat state, Isabgol has considered a cash crop, serving as a source of income to the farmers. Gujarat state faces many challenges, and seawater ingress is one of the major issues creating salinity in the soil, affecting seed germination. This research was carried out to study the effects of seed priming on seed germination behavior of Gujarat Isabgol variety 4. The method where KNO3 was used for priming with two different salinity levels, 0 dS/m, and 5.3 dS/m. The experiment was a completely randomized design. In this experiment, germination traits like germination percentage, Mean Germination Time, plumule length, radicle length, seed vigour, and fresh weight were measured. Data were analyzed by using SPSS software. The present study shows that halopriming with KNO3 at a lower concentration was quite an effective treatment since it significantly increased some of the germination traits of Gujarat Isabgol variety 4.

Effects of Hormonal Treatment on Seed Germination Behavior of Dalbergia sissoo Roxb.

Effects of Hormonal Treatment on Seed Germination Behavior of Dalbergia sissoo Roxb.

Effect of selected environmental factors on the seed germination of the invasive species Polygala myrtifolia (Polygalaceae) in Australia

Context Polygala myrtifolia L. has become a significant environmental weed in Australia, where it has invaded coastal ecosystems in temperate regions and there is a high risk of extensive further spread. Knowledge of seed-germination behaviour is essential to understand the potential future impact of this species. Aims We investigated the effects of selected environmental factors and dormancy on P. myrtifolia seed germination and emergence to improve management strategies. Methods Seeds were exposed to light, temperature, pH, salinity, osmotic potential and burial depth treatments to assess germination responses, dormancy and viability. Key results Non-dormant seeds readily germinated to high percentages (93.0–95.0%) under specific day–night temperatures of 25°C–15°C regardless of light conditions and across all soil pH (75.0–100.0%). Salinities were tolerated up to 100 mM NaCl (70.0% germination) before sharply declining. Germination reduced from 98.3% to 40.0% at osmotic potentials of −0.4 MPa and −0.6 MPa respectively. Emergence was greatest on the soil surface (48.33%) and absent from depths of 8 cm. Conclusions Germination was high during autumn, winter and spring conditions and across soils of any pH. The species is unlikely to invade areas of high salinity; however, it is moderately tolerant of low soil moisture during germination. Implications There is high risk of P. myrtifolia further invading sensitive ecosystems because of its high germination success. Preventing seed dispersal and ensuring seedlings are controlled on emergence are critical to reducing its impact. We recommend that the cultivation and sale of this species should be prohibited across Australia to prevent further spread.

Effects of pre-sowing treatments and harvesting period on the seed germination of Zanthoxylum armatum DC

This study was carried out to determine the effects of different treatments and harvesting period on the germination behavior of seeds of Zanthoxylum armatum. Treatments including mechanical stratification, acid treatment, gibberellic acid (GA3) and sowing seeds harvested at different time period were evaluated. Several experiments including various treatments were conducted during 2018 and 2019 at the Laboratory of Dabur Nepal Private Limited Nursery, Banepa to study the germination behavior in the seeds of Z. armatum. It was found that the seeds of Z. armatum do not germinate easily. Chemical and hormonal treatments had relatively some effects on the germination, while the hot water, cold water and chilling treatment did not induce germination. Nitric acid had comparatively better germination than hydrochloric acid and sulfuric acid. Among the mechanical treatments, sand scarification was the most effective with germination of 35.33±2.90 %, which is comparatively higher than that of chemical treatments. Germination percentage increased with the increase in concentration of GA3 with the highest 54.67±8.11 % at 1500 ppm and decreased thereafter. Viability decreased with storage for long period. Among all the methods for inducing seed germination in Z. armatum, the most effective was sowing freshly harvested seeds at proper time. A maximum of 62.44±8.94% germination was obtained for the seeds collected during 16 September-15 October. Seeds germinated better during mid-phase of harvesting than early or late. Sowing seeds immediately after harvesting is a simple, safe, reliable, low-cost and efficient way to obtain higher germination percentage in Z. armatum.

Quantifying Osmotic Stress and Temperature Effects on Germination and Seedlings Growth of Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) via Hydrothermal Time Model

Germination models are really useful in predicting seed germination, attributed to their application in economic crop management. Hence, we evaluated cardinal temperatures (Ts), seed germination behavior, and model coefficients of fenugreek under varying temperatures (Ts; 10, 20, 30, and 40 °C) and water potentials (ψs 0, −0.01, −0.02, and −0.05 MPa). We observed that the maximum and minimum hydrotime constant (θH) values at 20 °C, respectively. The base water potential at 50 percentiles (Ψb 50) exhibited an asymmetrical pattern with the highest (−0.9 MPa) value computed at 40 °C and the lowest (−0.13 MPa) at 10 °C. Furthermore, the ceiling temperature (TC), base temperature (Tb), and optimal temperature (To) of Fenugreek were determined to be 34.5 °C, 7.8 °C, and 18 °C, respectively. In addition, we observed that germination index, germination rate index, germination percentage, germination energy, Timson germination index, seed vigor index I and II, and root-shoot ratio are at their highest values at 20 °C and lowest at −0.05 MPa at 40 °C. Based on our findings, we suggest that the hydrothermal time model (HTT) can be used to explore the independent and synergistic effects of both T and ψ on the germination of seeds in different environmental conditions. The obtained model coefficients indicate that fenugreek is temperature-sensitive and suitable for agriculture in irrigated regions.

Comparative study of the effects of different soluble salts on seed germination of wild marigold (Tagetes minuta L.)

Wild marigold (Tagetes minuta L.) is an important aromatic plant species with a high industrial value in its essential oil. It has spread worldwide due to its wide adaptations. However, meager information is available regarding its salt tolerance. Understanding its seed germination behavior is crucial for establishing the plant species in new saline habitats. The present work focuses on the effect of five soluble salts (CaCl2, KCl, MgCl2, Na2SO4 and NaCl) on germination velocity, salinity tolerance index and germination percentage of wild marigold. Five concentrations (0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 mM) of the salts were given in a two-factor factorial, completely randomized design (CRD). The experiment was performed in a programmed culture room at 25 ± 2 ℃ under 16 h of light (PAR: 40 µmol m−2 s−1) and 8 h dark. Findings suggest that seeds of wild marigold exhibit the highest germination percentage (GP) of more than 95% in non-saline (control) conditions. The trend of germination inhibition due to different soluble salts was in the order: Na2SO4 > KCl > NaCl > CaCl2 > MgCl2. There was a significant decrease in germination velocity (0–40.56) and salinity tolerance index (0–96.67) with the elevated levels of salinity (all applied soluble salts). The dose resulting in a 50% decrease in seed germination, i.e., IC50 (inhibition concentration value) of 79.9 mM of solute salts, was obtained for wild marigold. There are strong indications that wild marigold can tolerate moderate salinity levels and can be appraised as a salt-tolerant aromatic crop. The present study's findings will open future horizons of salt tolerance in wild marigold by identifying potential salt tolerant breeding lines.

Qualitative and Quantitative Assessment of African Eggplant Seed Germination in Relation to Seed Maturation

The final germination expressed as a percentage alone is unsatisfactory for reporting results related to the germination capacity of a seed lot. Information on other quantitative variables are thus important to judge the agronomic value of a seed lot. To evaluate the seed germination characteristics of the African eggplant, seeds were extracted from fruits harvested at different maturity stages produced under both tropical and temperate oceanic climates. The seed germination behaviour was assessed by germinability, germination rate, homogeneity and synchrony of the seed lots. The data for each environment was analyzed separately in a two-way ANOVA constituting harvesting maturity stages and cultivars as factors. The results showed that seed germinability increased with maturation and maximum when fruits were harvested 76 DAA under both climates. Seeds harvested precociously failed to germinate regardless of the production environment. All seed quantitative variables measured were positively related to the final seed germinability. The seed germination rates measurements significantly increased with seed maturity, indicating seed vigour and final germinability improves with maturation. Coefficient of variation of germination time (CVt) was a good measure of uniformity in seed germination. The results further showed a strong and positive correlation with seed germination parameters such as GI, GV, MDG, CVG and U to final germination. It is recommended that for maximum seed quality, fruits should be harvested at 76 DAA. It is further suggested that seed germination results should be enriched by measuring other quantitative parameters as it communicates different aspects of the germination process.