The Effect Of Soaking Of Ridged Gourd Seeds (Luffa Acutangula) In Papaya?s Leaves Extract On Speeding Up The Germination

摘要

The study aimed at finding out the effect of soaking of ridged gourd seeds (Luffa acutangula) in papaya's leaves extract on speeding up the germination of the seeds. Ridged gourd is one kind of vegetables which is favored by societies. The breeding of this plant is through its seeds. The problem is that the outer layer of the seed skin is hard and therefore the seed is in trouble to germinate. Thus the seeds need softening before sowing. One way to soften the hard outer skin of the seeds is by soaking them in papaya's leaves extract. The papaya's leaves extract contains papain compound that can function to mince the hard layer of the seed skin. The treatments in the study involve several levels namely, G0: no soaking (control); G1: the soaking in the extract with 400 ml of water for 30 minutes; G2: the soaking in the extract with 500 ml of water for 30 minutes; G3: the soaking in the extract with 600 ml of water for 30 minutes; G4: the soaking in the extract with 400 ml of water for 60 minutes; G5: the soaking in the extract with 500 ml of water for 60 minutes; G6: the soaking in the extract with 600 ml of water for 60 minutes; G7: the soaking in the extract with 400 ml of water for 90 minutes; G8: the soaking in the extract with 500 ml of water for 90 minutes; G9: the soaking in the extract with 600 ml of water for 90 minutes. The study resulted that the soaking of the ridged gourd seeds in the papaya's leaves extract within 400 ml of water for 30 minutes demonstrated the highest speed of germination signified with longest seedlings and longest roots.