EFFECTS OF PRE-GERMINATION TREATMENTS, DESICCATION AND STORAGE TEMPERATURE ON GERMINATION OF <em>CARISSA</em> <em>EDULIS</em>, <em>VANGUERIA</em> <em>MADAGASCARIENSIS</em> AND <em>XIMENIA</em> <em>AMERICANA</em> SEEDS

Abstract

MAARA, N. T., KARACHI, M. & AHENDA, J. O. 2006. Effects of pre-germination treatments, desiccation
and storage temperature on germination of Carissa edulis, Vangueria madagascariensis and Ximenia americana
seeds. Effects of seed pre-germination treatments, desiccation, storage temperature and duration of storage
on germination of freshly harvested Carissa edulis, Vangueria madagascariensis and Ximenia americana seeds
were investigated in three experiments in germination cabinets set at 20 to 25 °C. In experiment 1, nine
seed pre-germination treatments were applied. Germination tests were done immediately after the pretreatments
and after three months of storage at room temperature. In experiment 2, seeds were dried to
target seed moisture contents (TSMC) and then germinated. In experiment 3, seeds at TSMC were stored
at 25 to -20 °C for one, two and three months prior to germination. The pre-treatments did not provide
significant differences in germination. Good germination (> 70%) was obtained from all treatments that
did not involve injury to the seed. Nipping reduced germination whereas boiling water was lethal. Ageing
resulted in the reduction of germination of all seeds. Drying C. edulis seeds resulted in a marked decline in
seed germination but only marginal reduction in X. americana and no effects on V. madagascariensis. All
control seeds maintained > 70% viability after three months of storage. Low seed moisture content and
temperature reduced viability of C. edulis and X. americana seeds but had no effects on V. madagascariensis
seeds.