Correlation of Selected Germination Indices for Melia volknesii Seed Collected from Kibwezi Seed Orchard

Abstract

Melia volkensii is an important drought tolerant dryland species with characteristics that make it adoptable to harsh environments. The species is primarily propagated by seeds that are produced in fruits (drupes) that contain a single nut with each nut having two to five seeds. To collect data on the germination indices of M. volkensii, fruits were collected from a seed orchard in Kibwezi and the nuts were extracted immediately. The nuts were stored in open containers for three months and seeds were extracted from the nuts. The extracted seeds were stored for two weeks prior to experimentation and prepared for germination testing. The seeds were then germinated in the glasshouse at KEFRI Seed Center Muguga and nursery at KEFRI Kibwezi using shallow drills and light covering. The sown experiments were then covered with a transparent polythene bag and observed for 25 days. Germination data was collected on daily basis for 25 days and analyzed to generate germination indices. The output was subjected to ANNOVA using Genstat Version 14, and correlations were done. Onset germination was observed between day five and six with 77% germination in the glasshouse and 54% germination in the nursery. Peak germination was reached between day 19 and day 24, with germination rate highest between day 7 and day 19. From the current study, germination outcomes related positively with all other indices with the exception of T50, the index whose increase corresponds with poor germination outcomes. Comparatively, Mean Daily Germination, Germination Value, and Peak Value (indices that indicate a fast germination rate) had a strong positive correlation to germination percentage for the sown M. volkensii seeds.