ABSTRACT
A study on pre-germination treatment on the germination and early seedling growth of Parkia biglobosa of the tropical rainforest using various pre-germination treatment was conducted at the Department of Forestry and Environmental Management Nursery site of the College of Natural Resources and Environmental Management, Micheal Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike. Though, there has been emphasis on the use of indigenous tree species to check land degradation but these have not yielded the desired result, due to poor natural rate of regeneration and slow growth rate of most indigenous trees. Parkia biglobosa is being endangered as a result of over-exploitation coupled with the adverse effect of increasing human activities on its habitats and lack of its stand plantations. Matured seeds of Parkia biglobosa were collected from Oban West Forest Reserve in Cross River State, Nigeria. The seeds were dried at room temperature and tested for viability by floatation method. The seeds were subjected to four (4) different pre-germination treatments, namely: soaked in water at 80◦C for two minutes (Treatment one), soaked in water at 60◦C for two minutes (Treatment two), soaked in water at 40◦C for two minutes (treatment tree), soaked in water at 20◦C for two minutes (Treatment four) and soaked in water at 7◦C for two minutes which served as the control. From the experiment, dormancy was effectively broken by soaked in water at 80◦C for two minutes which improved the germination to 95%. Soaked in water at 60◦C for two minutes had 65% germination, treatment with water at 40◦C for two minutes had 45% germination while treatment with water at 20◦C for two minutes had 34% germination and seeds that were soaked in water at 7◦C for two minutes (control) had 29% germination.
Based on the result of the study, seeds soaked in water at 80◦C for two minutes were recommended as the best germination treatment to break seed dormancy experienced in Parkia biglobosa seeds.
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Cover page
Title page i
Declaration ii
Certification iii
Dedication iv
Acknowledgement v
Table of contents vi
List of tables viii
List of Plates ix
Abstract x
CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study 1
1.2 Statement of the Problem 2
1.3 Objectives of the Study 3
1.4 Justification of the Study 3
1.5 Scope of the Study 3
1.6 Research Hypothesis 3
CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1
Forest tree Domestication 5
2.2
Medicinal Description of Parkia biglobosa 6
2.3
Biodiversity of Seed Proteins of Parkia biglobosa 7
2.4
Physical Properties of Seeds 8
2.5
Seed Collection 9
2.6 Location of Seed Collection 9
2.7 Seed Germination 9
2.8 Type of Seeds Germination 10
2.9 Seed Germination Characteristics 11
2.10 Grading of Seeds 11
2.11 Seedling Growth 12
2.12 Genetic Variations Within and Between Population 13
CHAPTER 3 MATERIALS AND METHODS
3.1 Study Area 15
3.2.1
Methodology source of planting materials 15
3.2.2 Seed viability test 15
3.2.3 Soil sample 16
3.2.4 Methods 16
3.2.5 Germination count 16
3.2.6 Water/weeding of seedlings 17
3.2.7 Data collection and analysis 17
CHAPTER 4 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
4.1 Result 18
4.2
Discussion 30
CHAPTER
5 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Conclusion 32
5.2 Recommendations
33
References 34
Appendices 41
LIST
OF TABLES
4.1
Physiochemical Properties of Soil Medium Before and After
Experiments 19
4.2
Seed Lengths and Weights 23
4.3
Germination Percentage Analysis of Parkia
biglobosa Seeds
at Various Treatments 23
4.4
Pre-germination Treatments of Parkia
biglobosa Seeds at Various
Treatments 25
4.5
Leaves Count 26
4.6
Seedling Girth 27
4.7
Seedlings Height 28
LIST
OF PLATES
1. Seeds
of Parkia biglobosa 20
2. Parkia biglobosa seeds at different
treatments level 20
3. Early
Seedlings of Parkia biglobosa 21
4. Early
Seedlings of Parkia biglobosa 21
5. Early
Seedlings of Parkia biglobosa 22
6. Early
Seedlings of Parkia biglobosa 22
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Parkia
biglobosa is a perennial plant which belongs to the
sub-family Mimosodeae and family Fabaceae. It is a leguminous crop found mainly
in the tropics. The tree is cultivated but could be seen in a population of two
or more in the savannah region of West Africa (Hopkins, 1983). Parkia biglobosa is prominent in entire
savannah region of West Africa (Yudkin, 1985). It grows in savannah region of
West Africa up to the edge of Sahel zone (Campbell, 1980). Dalziel (1963) and
Keay (1989) reported that Parkia
biglobosa extends from Senegal to Sudan and its habitat is in savannah land
as it is characteristic of transition areas from Shelian to Sudanian eco zone
locally on farmlands. It is common in Nigeria particularly in the Northern and
southern western parts of Nigeria (Odunfa, 1982). It is found throughout the
savannah land of North Central Nigeria covering Benue, Kaduna, Kogi, Nassarawa
and Plateau State (Tee et al., 2009). A mature Parkia biglobosa tree of 20 to 30 years could bear about a tone and
above of harvested fruits. Musa (1991) reported that the tree can start to bear
fruits from 5 – 7 years after planting. The tree is 7 - 20 meters high and
bears pods that occur in large bunches and vary from 120 – 300 mm in length.
Parkia
biglobosa has the ability to withstand drought
conditions because of its deep tap root system. It is an important food tree
and plays a very vital role in the rural economy of West African countries
Virtually every part of the species is of value as food or fodder (Gbadamosi,
2002). It plays vital role to food security, supply of timber, firewood,
fodder, drugs, and dyes as well as restoration of fertility (Okunlla et al.,
2011). The seed contain 54% fat and 30% protein in addition to vitamins and
minerals such as calcium, potassium and phosphorus (Alieron, 2004). The leaves,
fruits, nuts, root, bark, stem, flowers and seeds of Parkia biglobosa are all used for medicinal purpose to treat a
range of ailments including diarrhea, ulcers, pneumonia, burns, cough and
jaundice. (Sacande and Clethero, 2007). As a leguminous plant it has been
reported to have the ability of fixing atmospheric Nitrogen to the soil (Cobley
and Steel, 1976). The yellow powdery pulp is rich in carbohydrate (Oladele et
al., 1985) and rich in oil suitable for the manufacture of soap (Owoyale et al.,
1986) and is used in the production of a native gruel (Kunnu) (Musa, 1991). Parkia biglobosa seed possesses an
exogenous dormancy in which the hard seed coat prevents its germination. As a
result of this, there is rapid decrease in the number of Parkia biglobosa in many localities.The seed coat dormancy in Parkia biglobosa seed prevents the
species from fast and uniform germination at the nursery stage (Okunlola et
al., 2011).
1.2
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
A major problem of pre-germination
treatments on the germination and early seedling growth of Parkia biglobosa are: oxygen, temperature and seed dormancy.
Oxygen is required by the germinating
seed for aerobic respiration. Oxygen is required by the food stored in the
cotyledons to metabolism to occur.
Temperature plays a significant role
in the rate at which germination proceeds. A seed could germinate between 4◦C
and 37◦C, but the optimal temperature ranges between 12◦C
and 25◦C.
Dormancy: Seed dormancy is a
temporary failure of a mature viable seed to germinate under environmental
conditions that would normally favour germination (Hilhorst, 1995; Li and
Foley, 1997). There is the need to break the dormancy for large number of seeds
to germinate.
1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The general objective of this study
was to identify the effects of pre-germination treatment on the germination and
early seedling growth of Parkia biglobosa
at Umudike, Nigeria. The specific objectives of this study are:
i. to determine the germination percentage of Parkia bilglobosa at various treatments
and
ii. to
examine the effects of pre-germination treatment on the seedling growth of Parkia
biglobosa.
1.4
JUSTIFICATION OF THE STUDY
Parkia biglobosa
has many uses. The leaves are used as manure in farms. The fruits are used in
preparing soup. There is paucity of literature on the germination and early
seedling growth of this plant species. The villagers find it difficult to
replace dead trees. There is the need to study the germination and early
seedling growth of this plant species.
1.5
SCOPE OF THE STUDY
This research covers nursery
investigation on the effect of pre-germination treatments on the germination
and early seedling growth of Parkia
biglobosa at Umudike, Nigeria.
1.6 RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS
The following null hypothesis were
formulated for this study:
Hypothesis
one
Ho: there is no significant effects on
pre-germination treatment on the germination rate of Parkia biglobusa at various treatments.
Hypothesis
two
H0: There is no
significant effects of pre-germination treatments on leaves count of Parkia biglobosa at various treatments
Hypothesis
three
Ho: There is no
significant effects of pre-germination treatments on seedling girth of Parkia biglobosa at various treatment
Hypothesis
four
Ho: There is no
significant effects of pre-germination treatments on seedling height of Parkia biglobusa at various treatments
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