Effect of Sources and Periods of Organo-Priming on the Germination of Vitex Doniana Sweet Seeds
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Journal of Research in Forestry, Wildlife & Environment Vol. 11(4) December, 2019 E-m a il: [email protected] ; [email protected] 100 http://www.ajol.info/index.php/jrfwe jfewr ©2019 - jfewr Publications This work is licensed under a ISBN: 2141 – 1778 Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License Adeyemi and Moshood, 2019 EFFECT OF SOURCES AND PERIODS OF ORGANO-PRIMING ON THE GERMINATION OF VITEX DONIANA SWEET SEEDS * Adelani, D.O and Muhammed, R Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation, P.M.B 2273, Afaka, Kaduna State, Nigeria (Correspondence author:[email protected]; 07038953146) ABSTRACT There is paucity of quantified information on the simple, safe and natural methods of breaking the dormancy of Vitex doniana seeds. In this light, investigation was conducted on organo-priming which is the use of organic materials in priming in order to break the dormancy of V. doniana seeds, at the screen house of Federal College of Forestry Mechanization, Afaka, Kaduna State, Nigeria during 2018 dry season. The solutions of the leaves of nitrogen fixing trees are sources of organic materials used in organo-priming. Effect of sources (Prosopis africana, Jacaranda mimosifolia, Pentaclethra micropylla, Vitex doniana, Enterelobium cyclocarpum, Casuarina equisetifolia) and periods (0, 6, 12, 18 and 24 hrs) of organo-priming on the germination of V. doniana seeds was laid down in split-plot experimental design with five replicates. A significant germination percentage value of 64 % was recorded in seed organo-primed in J. mimosifolia and P. microphylla. The least mean germination time of 3.2 days was recorded in seeds soaked in E. cyclocarpum. A significant germination percentage value of 100% was recorded in seeds organo-primed in J. mimosifolia for 18 hours. Organo-priming significantly (P<0.05) enhanced the germination of V. doniana seeds. The research therefore recommends organo-priming of V. doniana seeds in solution of leaf litter of J. mimosifolia for 18 hours. Key words: Soaked, Primed, Dormancy, Natural, Germination INTRODUCTION Yoruba respectively (Orwa et al., 2009). It belongs The developing nations including Nigeria are to the family Labiatae. The blackish pulp of the endowed with many indigenous fruits that are of matured fruits is sweet and edible, and is eaten great importance to the rural communities fresh. This pulp also serves in jam preparation. A (Okunlola and Akinyele, 2017). Fruits are referred beverage is made from the fruit juice, whereas to as juicy seed bearing structure of flowering plant boiled fruits are the basis for an alcoholic liquor and that may be eaten as food. According to Okafor wine (Ky, 2008). The V. doniana is an important (2010), the contributions of wild fruits, nuts, seeds, indigenous fruit or leafy vegetable in Africa vegetables and other classes of edible forest (Burkill, 2000; Maundu et al., 2009) for food, products and their potential in overcoming or medicine and other purposes (Dadjo et al., 2012). ameliorating prevailing food problems are Hounkpèvi et al. (2018) stated that its leaves are enormous. According to Pye-Smith (2010), there used as fodder for livestock and the young leaves as are around 3000 species of wild fruits in Africa leafy vegetables in sauces preparation. The blackish representing enormous important and largely pulp of its ripened fruits is edible and used in untapped natural resources. Vitex doniana is one of preparation of some sweet drinks (Hounkpèvi et al., such indigenous fruit tree species of immense 2018). potentials. Hounkpèvi et al. (2018) stated based on its socio- Vitex doniana is called Black plum; Dinya; Ucha economic importance, its integration into the farm koro and Oori-nla in English, Hausa, Igbo and production systems could foster domestication JOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN FORESTRY, WILDLIFE AND ENVIRONMENT, VOLUME 11, NO. 4 DECEMBER, 2019 EFFECT OF SOURCES AND PERIODS OF ORGANO-PRIMING ON THE GERMINATION OF VITEX DONIANA SWEET SEEDS 101 strategies and reduce anthropogenic pressures on its Nutrient in organic materials dissolve during natural populations. The V. doniana seeds are watering and available to seeds to enhance the dormant (Oboh and Igharo, 2017). Dormancy is a physiology of the embryo as well as relieving seeds state where seeds do not germinate when placed from dormancy for germination to take place under conditions which are normally regarded as (Adelani et al., 2018). Relieving seeds of favourable for germination (Ajiboye, 2010). Baskin physiological (Adelani et al., 2014a), physical and and Baskin (2004) defined a dormant seed (or other mechanical dormancy encourage mass production germination unit) as one that does not have the of seedlings for agro-forestry systems (Adelani et capacity to germinate in a specified period of time al., 2018). under any combination of normal physical environmental factors (temperature, light/dark MATERIALS AND METHODS among others) that otherwise is favourable for its Experimental Site germination. The research was conducted in the screen house of the Federal College of Forestry Mechanization, Seed dormancy remains a bottleneck to the Afaka, Kaduna State. The college is located in the propagation of many forest species of economic Northern Guinea Savannah ecological zones of importance, since about 70 % of all major Nigeria. It is situated in Igabi Local Government taxonomic groups of seed plants have dormant Area of Kaduna State, Nigeria. It lies between seeds (Baskin and Baskin, 2003). The V. doniana Latitude 10o 35′ and 10o 34′and Longitude 7o 21′and seeds present a combination of physical (PY) and 7o 20′ (Adelani, 2015). The mean annual rainfall is physiological dormancy (PD), based on approximately 1000mm. The vegetation is open classification by Baskin and Baskin (2004) and woodland with tall broad leave trees (Otegbeye et Silveira (2013). However, little is known about al., 2001). dormancy breaking requirements and no reliable technique is available yet. Imbibition tests revealed Fruit Collection and Seed Extraction that V. doniana seeds are physically dormant The fruits of V. doniana were sourced from the (N’Danikou et al., 2014) but different treatments mother tree in Buruku Forest Reserve, Kaduna State tested so far resulted in germination rates below of Nigeria. The seeds were extracted from the fruits 60% after six months (Mapongmetsem, 2006; Ky, and air dried for thirty minutes. Three hundred 2008; Ahoton et al., 2011). Uniform germination is seeds were extracted from their fruits. The viability one of the important agronomic requirements for of the randomly selected seed samples was assessed successful domestication of wild harvested using the cutting method (Schmidt, 2000). The river economic plants (N’Danikou et al., 2015). sand used for the experiment was collected from the Priming is one of the methods of ensuring uniform floor of the college dam and made to pass through 2 germination. Seed priming is a method to promote mm sieve (Adelani and Bello, 2016) and then rapid and uniform germination of seeds, by sterilized in the laboratory oven at 160 oC for 24 controlling imbibitions to an extent where hours (Adelani and Joseph, 2014; Adelani and germination is initiated, but insufficient to cause Maisamari, 2016). The polythene pots used was 20 radical emergence (Schmidt, 2000). Most of the x 10 x 10 cm3 in dimension and filled with the methods of pre-sowing treatment such as physical, sterilized river sand and arranged in the screen chemical and mechanical scarification only degrade house. the seed coat for germination (Aliero, 2004; Abubakar and Muhammad, 2013); without, Chemical Analysis of Leaves of Nitrogen Fixing always, rapidly and uniformly influencing the Trees physiology of the seeds (Dewir et al., 2011) and Each sample of pulverized leaves of nitrogen fixing seedlings (Gehlot and Kasera, 2012) as well as not tree species was analyzed chemically for nitrogen, overcoming physiological dormancy of seeds phosphorus and potassium (NPK) content at the (Habib et al., 2015). Federal University Agriculture Abeokuta In light of this, this experiment was conducted to laboratory. Determination of total nitrogen was assess the effect of sources and periods of organo- done by Macro Kjeldahi method. Available priming on the germination of V. doniana seeds. phosphorus (P) was extracted by Bray-1 method and determined colourimetrically. Extracts from the able to break open the seed coat and at the sight of digestion of the leaves of the agro-forestry tree plumule emergence. species were used to determine potassium by flame For this experiment, germination percentage and photometry. The dry weights of the agro-forestry mean germination time were calculated using the species were determined, by the use of Mettle Top following formula (1 and 2) suggested by Schelin et Loading Weighing Balance (Model-Mettler PM 11- al. (2003). K), after oven dried at 70 oC for 72 hours in accordance with (Umar and Gwaram, 2006). Germination percentage (%) Experimental Design Germination percentage was computed using the The solutions of the leaves of nitrogen fixing trees formula: were sources of organic materials used in priming Germination Percentage x known as organo-priming. The investigation on the 100 ……. (1) effect of sources and periods of organo-priming on Germination percentage was recorded every two (2) the germination of V. doniana seeds was laid down days interval for 12 weeks when no more in split-plot experimental design with five germination was recorded. replicates. The solution of the leaves of nitrogen