Propagation of Treculia africana Decne Species through Promotion of Seed Germination by Some Physical and Chemical Treatments

Abstract

The benefits, uses and potentials of Treculia africana Decne (African breadfruit) have been identified as socio-economically, industrially and environmentally important. However, lack of commercial propagation posses an extinction threat of this endangered species as seeds expressed poor germination under germinating conditions. Consequently this study was carried out in order to ascertain the most effective methods for enhancing seed germination of this economically important plant. The effects of washing the seeds; air-drying the seeds for different time intervals; soaking seeds in H2O2 for different time intervals; and germinating in different potassium nitrate concentrations were investigated. The results of all the treatments indicated that for dark germinations, 1 mM potassium nitrate treatment expressed the highest germination (84%), followed by soaking in H2O2 for 30 minutes (78%), then 144 hrs air-drying (68%), and washing of seeds (46%) unlike unwashed seeds (28%), while the control for all treatments gave germinations that ranged from 2 to 28%. However, the light germinations were lower than the dark germinations with the various treatments expressing the following optimum percentage germinations (KNO3 – 53%; H2O2 – 72%; Air-drying for 72hrs- 28%, washing – 14% and unwashed – 2%) and the controls ranged from 2% to 14%. Light did not promote the seed germinations of T. africana. These findings implied that KNO3, H2O2, Air-drying and washing treatments should be employed for the enhancement of seed germination of T. africana seeds for the production and propagation of this invaluable and economically viable plant.