October 21, 2020
No Comments
The factors responsible for seed dormancy in 20 well known but less studied spices is reported. Seed dormancy imposed by hard, glossy or course seed coats of the factors limiting seed germination ranging from 5days in Arachis hypogee to 56days in Xylopa aethiopica. Six different scarification methods involving the soaking seeds in solutions of concerntrated H2SO4 and simazine (2-chro- 4-6-diethylamine, 3,5-tria zone) for periods ranging between 0 to 30 minutes and in warm (400c) water for 2 hours before testing for germination were carried out in 17 spices species. Induction of rooting was investigated using nodal and rhizomes cutting in 13 genotypes. It is concluded that germination of seeds of indigenous spice species can be enhanced to up to 85% by using appropriate scarification methods.