EFFECTS OF SEED DRYING, STORAGE AND PRETREATMENTS ON THE GERMINATION AND GROWTH OF ACACIA AURICULIFORMIS AND ACACIA NILOTICA SEEDLINGS

摘要

Acacia auriculiformis and Acacia nilotica one-day sun dried seeds with moisture content of 11.02% and 8.34% were stored in gunny bags and air tight plastic containers. The results indicated that seeds with good germination percentage (>60%) can be stored for 6-8 months in gunny bags and 10-12 months in air tight plastic containers at room temperature for Acacia auriculiformis and Acacia nilotica, respectively. Acacia auriculiformis and Acacia nilotica seeds were nicked, immersed in hot water and soaked in sulphuric acid to improve germination and to determine their effects on germination and vigour of subsequent seedling growth. Nicking showed highest germination percentage and germination energy for both species, but most of the resultant seedlingswere in the low vigour class. For Acacia auriculiformis soaking of seeds in acid for 30 minutes and immersing seeds in hot water for 5 minutes and 1 minute produced high germination and germination energy and the most of the seedlings were in high vigour category. For Acacia nilotica hot water treatment for 1 minute and H_2SO_4 for 30 minutes produced a high germination percentage and the seedlings represented high growth vigour.