African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 6 (6), pp. 697-698, 19 March 2007   

ISSN 1684–5315 © 2007 Academic Journals        

Short Communication

Effect of pre-sowing treatments on seed germination and seedling growth of Tetracarpidium conophorun Mull.

Ehiagbanare, J. E.^1* and Onyibe, H. I.²

¹Department of Biological Sciences, Igbinedion University, Okada, Nigeria.

²Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Nigeria.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: drehiagbonare@yahoo.com.

Accepted 26 February, 2007

Pre-sowing treatments were evaluated for Tetracarpidium conophorum. Mechanically scarified T. conophorum seeds soaked in indole acetic acid for 24 h yielded 90% seed germination. Smoked- and sun-dried seeds for 14 days yielded 73 and 33.3% seed germination, respectively. Poorest values were obtained from acid treatment (0%), while the control had 20%. The tough seed coat is the main germination problem.

Keywords: Traditional methods, Presowing treatments, Tetracarpidium conophorum, seed germination, seedling growth.