Influence of Seed Priming Method on Seedling Growth of Some Sudan Savannah trees in Yobe Stsate, North-Eastern Nigeria

Abstract

This research work was carried out to evaluate the effect of different seed priming methods on germination percentage and seedling growth of Prosopis africana and Pterocarpus erinaceus. Nursery experiment was conducted at Biological Garden Yobe State University, Damaturu. The experiment was laid in completely randomized block design with 100 seeds were planted with Ten (10) seeds per treatment and each replicated three (3) times, treatment employed consist of sundrying and seeds soaking in cold water for 24 hours, seeds soaking in (H2 SO4) for 5 minutes, seeds soaking in boiling water at 100oC for 5 minutes and Control. Growth parameters assessed were Germination percentage, Plant height, Stem girth, Number of branches, Number of leaves and leaf area. The data collected was analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results revealed that, Prosopis africana, had highest germination percentage of 42.5% in seeds immersed in 98% (H2 SO4) for 5 minutes with Highest mean values of Plant height (9.90±0.89a), Stem girth (1.23±0.05a), Number of branches (10.19±0.67a), Number of leaves (147.00±14.33a) and Leaf area of (0.43±0.04a). In Pterocarpus erinaceus, the highest germination percentage was 15% and recorded in seeds treated by Sundrying and immersing in cold water for 24 hours with highest mean values of Plant height (9.75±0.36a), Stem girth (1.10±0.11a) Number of branches (8.00±1.20a), Number of leaves (12.50±2.79a) and Leaf area (1.38±0.58a). This study concluded that treatment of seeds with 98% (H2 SO4) to be extended from 5 minutes to 35 - 40 minutes is the most effective method to improve percentage germination in Prosopis africana while treatment of seeds by sundrying and immersing in cold water for 24 hours to be extended from 24 - 72 hours is the most effective method to improve germination percentage of Pterocarpus erinaceus.