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Studies on the Dormancy and Germination of Stony Fruits of Hog plum (Spondias mombin) in Response to Different Pre-Soaking Seed Treatments

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Author Affiliations

  • 1Department of Biological Sciences, Federal University Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State, NIGERIA
  • 2Institute of Food Security, Environmental Resources and Agricultural Research (IFSERAR), Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, P.M.B. 2240, Abeokuta, Ogun State, NIGERIA

Int. Res. J. Biological Sci., Volume 3, Issue (6), Pages 57-62, June,10 (2014)

Abstract

Different parts of Spondias mombin plant is known for its diverse ethnopharmacological uses in different parts of the world. However, the seeds are dormant and the tree species remain undomesticated. The dormancy and germination of stony fruits of Hog plum (Spondias mombin) in responses to different pre-soaking seed treatments was carried out in the forest nursery unit of the Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria. Seeds were subjected to three main pre-soaking treatment methods each at three different duration of exposure; soaking in hot water, exposure to oven drying heat and soaking in 60% concentrated acid solutions (HSO, HNO and HCl) while the controls were sown without treatment. The results showed that 60% concentrated HSO4 for 25minutes produced the highest (75%) germination. Soaking in hot water at 100°C for 3minutes and exposure to oven drying heat at 90°C and 100°C for 3minutes gave poor germination (1%). It was however recorded that all the controls showed poorest germination (0%) under the same experimental conditions. Germination was observed to be enhanced by increase in the period of soaking from 15min. to 25mins in 60% concentrated acids solutions (HSO, HNO and HCl) except with HCl at 25mins. The increased seed germination through pre-soaking for 25mins in 60% conc. HSO4 nicking suggest that seed dormancy in S. mombin is mainly due to the chemical inhibitors and hard seed covering which renders the tough and corky endocarp impermeable to water and gases required for germination process. The information gathered in this research work will assist in solving the problems of seed dormancy for easy propagation of this highly demanded tree species.

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