Effect of different pretreatment methods on germination of Albizia julibrissin seeds.

摘要

The seeds of Albizia julibrissin are dormant because of their hard seed coat and they need pretreatment in order to germinate. In this research the effect of (a) dry heating, at 30 degrees C to 100 degrees C for 10 to 60 min, (b) chemical scarification with concentrated H₂SO₄ for 15, 30, 60, 90 or 120 min, (c) mechanical scarification for 5 sec, (d) seed soaking in warm water (30 degrees C to 100 degrees C for one to six hours) and (e) seed soaking in tap water for one to six days, on seed germination were examined. The most successful treatment was chemical scarification in concentrated H₂SO₄ for 2 hours (germination percentage 99%). Soaking in 40 or 50 degrees C warm water also resulted in high germination percentages (86 and 91%). The germination obtained after soaking in tap water for two days was also satisfactory (73%). All the above treatments also increased the germination rate as the overall germination was completed in less than six weeks.