Scarification of Exotic and Indigenous Plant Seeds in Nigeria: Effect on Dormancy and Germination

Abstract

Dormancy is exhibited in many seed producing plants. It could be endogenous or exogenous, depending on the plant and the type of seed the plant produce. A survival strategy, plant use to conserve their genetic materials during unfavourable conditions. Scarification treatments has been used in this work to break the dormancy of Anacardium occidentale, Annona muricata, Jatropha curcas, Tamarindus indica and Artocarpus heterophyllus using 65% Nitric acid (HNO3), 65% Sulphuric acid (H2SO4), 0.5% Potassium tetraoxosulphate(VI) (K2SO4), 0.5% Urea (CH4N2O), 43% Ethanol (C2H6O) and Distilled water. Nitric acid (65% HNO3) produced the best result for Anacardium occidentale with high numbers of seedlings and a germination period of 15 days. Jatropha curcas did not produce a favourable result from the treatments. Tamarindus indica, water treatment produced the best result with six days of germination shorter than the controlled value (16 days). Nitric acid (65% HNO3) and water favor Annona muricata with germination period of 19 days as against 24 days for control experiment. Water and Potassium sulphate are the best treatments for Artocarpus heterophyllus as they produce viable seedlings with short germination period of 14 and 15 days which give a good result better than the 18 days of the control experiment.