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Effect of Pre-sowing Treatment on Seed Germination of Lohakath (xylia Kerrii Craib & Hutch.)

Md. Salim Azad
Forestry and Wood Technology Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna 9208, Bangladesh

Md. Abdul Matin*
Forestry and Wood Technology Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna 9208, Bangladesh

Md. Wasiul Islam
Forestry and Wood Technology Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna 9208, Bangladesh

Zedan-Al-Musa
Forestry and Wood Technology Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna 9208, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Lohakath (Xylia kerrii Craib & Hutch.), a valuable timber species in Bangladesh, belongs to the family Leguminosae. Morphology of fruits, seeds and the effect pre-sowing treatments of seeds were studied. The average length, breath and thickness of fruits were found 13.3, 5.3 and 0.8 cm respectively and those of seeds were 1.4, 0.3 and 0.3 cm respectively. Number of seeds per kilogram was 5000-5400. The germination test was done by sowing the seeds in polybags (4 cm x 6 cm) filled with a mixture of topsoil, coconut husk compost, coarse sand and fine sand in the ratio of 3:4:1:1. The highest germination percentage (98%) was found in scarification with sand paper. The lowest germination percentage (53%) was found in control. About 87% was found in hot water (80 °C) immersion (10 minutes), 84% was found in 80% concentrated H2SO4, 63% was found in immersion in cold water (4 °C) for 12 hours. As the use of sulphuric acid and scarification techniques are somewhat risky and trouble some, therefore, pre-sowing treatment of Lohakath seed for germination in rural Bangladesh could be hot water immersion method.

Keywords: Seed, Germination, Lohakath, Xylia kerrii, Sowing

Location: National Botanical Garden at Mirpur, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Development of Host and Medicinal Plants

Commodity: Lohakat

Objectives:

Wood of this species is reddish brown, very hard, heavy and durable, extensively used for house and bridge construction and for railway sleepers (Troup, 1986). In Bangladesh use of this species as timber is increasing and new plantations are being raised in different forest areas. For raising new plantations, a lot of seedlings are needed. The average seed germination success of the seeds of this species is 48% in Bangladesh (Padma et al., 1994). An attempt has therefore been taken to study seed germination success of the species under different pre-sowing treatments.

Methodology:

The seeds of X. kerrii were collected from about 30 years old healthy trees from National Botanical Garden at Mirpur, Dhaka, Bangladesh. After collection the seeds were dried for 4 to 5 days in open sun to reduce the moisture. Fresh and dried seeds were used for the experiment. The germination test was done by sowing the seeds in poly-bags (4 cm x 6 cm). The media of the poly-bags was topsoil, coconut husk compost, coarse sand and fine sand in the ratio of 3:4:1:1. There were five treatments in the experiment, i.e., treatment 1 (T1): control, treatment 2 (T2): immersion in cold water (4 °C) for 12 hours, treatment 3 (T3): immersion in hot water (80 °C) for 10 minutes, treatment 4 (T4): scarification with sand paper, treatment 5: immersion in concentrated H2SO4 (80%) for 20 minutes. One seed was sown in each polybag. Polybags were kept in shade throughout the experiment. The seeds were sown at a depth of 0.5-1.5 cm and watering was done manually one time at noon everyday. Randomized Block Design (RBD) was used for the experiment. For each treatment, number of replications was four and sample size was twenty. The total number of polybag used was 5 x 4 x 20 = 400. For each treatment 80 polybags were used. Variance analysis and Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT) were carried out to analyze the data. The experiment was done in April 2005 and the temperature and humidity was recorded 33.42 °C and 88.60% respectively in the polybags. The number of seeds germinated in each treatment was recorded every alternate day. The starting and finishing dates of germination were also recorded.

Source of Information: Khulna University Studies, 7(2): 33-36, 2006

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Among the five pre-sowing treatments scarification (98%), hot water immersion (87%) and concentrated sulphuric acid (84%) showed the first, second and third position in germination performance. Statistically no significant differences in germination percentage were found among them. However, the use of sulphuric acid and scarification techniques are somewhat risky and trouble some. Therefore, the best method of pre-sowing treatment of Lohakath seed for germination in rural Bangladesh is hot water immersion.

Knowledge Management: Journal