Improving germination and seedling growth to promote the widespread cultivation of the rare Balanites aegyptiaca trees

Ghaba, Zienab S; Ebeid, Ahmed F.A.; Soliman, Wagdi Saber; Gahory, Abd-Allah

doi:10.21608/aujst.2024.301079.1107

Improving germination and seedling growth to promote the widespread cultivation of the rare Balanites aegyptiaca trees

Document Type : Original papers

Authors

¹ Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Aswan University, Egypt

² Horticulture Research Institute, ARC, Egypt

³ Horticulture Department, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Aswan University

⁴ Horticulture Department, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Aswan University, Aswan, Egypt

10.21608/aujst.2024.301079.1107

Abstract

The current study was carried out in Agricultural Research Station of Al-Marashda, Qena Governorate, A.R.C., Egypt, during 2023 and 2024 seasons to investigate the impact of different pre-germination treatments on seed germination and seedling growth characteristics of Balanites aegyptiaca L. The experiment was arranged in a completely randomized block design consisting 9 treatments, three replications for each treatment. The pre-germination treatments were control (untreated seeds); soaking in tap-water for 24 and 48 h; soaking seeds in previously boiled water for 24 h at ambient temperature; soaking in GA3 2000, 4000 and 6000 ppm for 24 h; mechanical scarification and immersion seeds in concentrated sulphuric acid for 5 min. The obtained results showed that B. aegyptiaca seeds appeared to be affected by the different pre-germination treatments for breaking their dormancy. Soaking seeds of B. aegyptiaca in tap-water for 24 h, followed by soaking seeds in previously boiled water for 24 h at room temperature and mechanical scarification resulted in the highest germination parameters i.e. germination percentage, daily germination speed, mean germination rate, and vigor index as well as enhanced seedling growth characteristics. The present investigation concluded the possibility of breaking seed dormancy this tree species and promoting its cultivation using the recommended pre-germination treatments in tap-water or previously boiled water for 24 h.

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