EFFECTS OF PRE-GERMINATION TREATMENTS, DESICCATION AND STORAGE TEMPERATURE ON GERMINATION OF CARISSA EDULJS, VANGUERIA MADAGASCARIENSIS AND XIMENIA AMERICANA SEEDS

摘要

Effects of seed pre-germination treatments, desiccation, storage temperature and duration of storage on germination of freshly harvested Carissa edulis, Vangueria madagascariensis and Ximenia americana seeds were investigated in three experiments in germination cabinets set at 20 to 25 °C. In experiment 1, nine seed pre-germination treatments were applied. Germination tests were done immediately after the pretreatments and after three months of storage at room temperature. In experiment 2, seeds were dried to target seed moisture contents (TSMC) and then germinated. In experiment 3, seeds at TSMC were stored at 25 to -20 °C for one, two and three months prior to germination, The pre-treatments did not provide significant differences in germination. Good germination (> 70%) was obtained from all treatments that did not involve injury to the seed Nipping reduced germination whereas boiling water was lethal. Ageing resulted in the reduction of germination of all seeds. Drying C. edulis seeds resulted in a marked decline in seed germination but only marginal reduction in X. americana and no effects on V. madagascariensis. All control seeds maintained > 70% viability after three months of storage. Low seed moisture content and temperature reduced viability of C, edulis and X. americana seeds but had no effects on V. madagascariensis seeds.