Seed Treatment for Development of Seedlings of Black Velvet Tamarind (Dialium guineense)

Abstract

Black Velvet Tamarind (Dialum guineense) an unexploited agroforestry species with high potentials as a multipurpose agroforestry crop has the problem of seedling development due to poor seed germination. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of some seed treatment methods namely temperature (40⁰C, 60⁰C, and 80⁰C,); sulphuric acid (40% and 98%); manual scarification by seed abrasion on seed germination enhancement. Treatments were given for durations of 1 min, 3 mins and 5 mins respectively. The 98% sulphuric acid treatment was significantly different (P=0.05) from the other treatments. There was no significant treatment X duration interaction. The study showed that temperature, manual scarification and 49% sulphuric acid would not be ideal to enhance seed germination in Dialum guineense.  The 98% sulphuric acid though seemed promising is still not reasonable (Ca 40% germination). A more effective and probable less expensive and less laborious approach need to be developed for large scale seedling production in nurseries