Volume 10, Issue 21, January - June 2024

Comparative study of dormancy breaking efficiency in Terminalia mantaly seeds using microorganisms and conventional pre-treatment methods

Okon G Okon¹, Abdelhak Rhouma^2♦, Joseph E Okon¹, Ukponobong E Antia³, Emem O Mbong⁴, Lovina I Udoh¹, Inimfon A Ibanga³, Abdulnabi Abbdul Ameer Matrood⁵, Lobna Hajji-Hedfi²

¹Department of Botany, Akwa Ibom State University, Nigeria
²Regional Centre of Agricultural Research of Sidi Bouzid, CRRA, Gafsa Road Km 6, B.P. 357, Sidi Bouzid 9100, Tunisia
³Department of Microbiology, Akwa Ibom State University, Nigeria
⁴Department of Biological Sciences, Ritman University, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria
⁵Department of Plant Protection, College of Agriculture, University of Basrah, Basrah 61004, Iraq

^♦Corresponding author
Regional Centre of Agricultural Research of Sidi Bouzid, CRRA, Gafsa Road Km 6, B.P. 357, Sidi Bouzid, 9100, Tunisia

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out to comparatively look at the most efficient methods of dormancy breaking in Terminalia mantaly using microorganisms (Lasiodiplodia theobromae, Candida sp., and Aspergillus spp.), chilling, heating, 1% HCl, scarification, and Dil. H2SO4. Analysis of seed germination percentages (PGS) over 5-31 days revealed that T. mantaly seeds treated with 1% HCl exhibited the highest PGS (86.66%), followed by L. theobromae (66.66%), Candida sp. (60%), and untreated controls (46.66%). The treatment using Aspergillus spp. resulted in moderate PGS (40%), while scarification yielded the lowest PGS (13.33%). Notably, chilling, heat, and diluted sulfuric acid treatments did not achieve any seed germination within the 31-day period. T. mantaly seeds subjected to treatments with L. theobromae, Candida sp., and Aspergillus spp. demonstrated precocious germination (5-7 days after treatment). L. theobromae treatment exhibited the highest speed germination index (SGI) (2.91), followed by 1% HCl (2.62), and Candida sp. However, chilling, heating, and diluted sulfuric acid treatments recorded no germination and, consequently, no SGI. These results suggest that T. mantaly seeds treated with the microbial isolates and 1% HCl demonstrated enhanced dormancy breaking and germination, as reflected by higher PGS and SGI. This research contributes to our understanding of T. mantaly germination biology by highlighting the potential of microorganisms and hydrochloric acid in overcoming seed coat dormancy, particularly in species with hardened seeds. This opens new avenues for exploring their use in promoting successful germination and enhancing plant establishment.

Keywords: Aspergillus spp., Candida sp., Dormancy, Lasiodiplodia theobromae, Seed, Terminalia mantaly.

Discovery Agriculture, 2024, 10, e5da1549

PDF

DOI: https://doi.org/10.54905/disssi.v10i21.e5da1549

Published: 07 February 2024