Effect of Seed Size and Pretreatment Methods on Germination of Albizia lebbeck

Abstract

Albizia lebbeck is a multipurpose tree species prioritised for conservation in Malawi. The different plant parts are used in traditional medicine to treat different diseases. However, the seeds are dormant, and the tree species remain undomesticated. A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of seed size and presowing on the germination of Albizia lebbeck in a nursery. Seeds were grouped into four categories in regard to their length, small (≤0.5 cm), medium ( cm), large (≥0.8 cm), and mixture of small, medium, and large seeds. The seeds were subjected to five main seed pretreatment methods, namely, soaking in sulphuric acid for 2 minutes, nicking, soaking in hot water for 5 minutes, soaking in cold water for 24 hours, and control where seeds were sown without any treatment. The results indicate that combination of nicking and large seeds produced the highest (100%) germination. Hot water treatment was effective in large seeds producing 67.5% germination. The increased germination for mechanically scarified seeds through nicking suggests that seed dormancy in Albizia lebbeck is mainly due to its hard seed coat. Therefore, it is recommended to farmers to adopt use of nicking and large seeds, since it is safe and effective.

Effect of Seed Size ofAfzelia quanzensison Germination and Seedling Growth

“…The results in the present study are in agreement with [18] which reported that seed size did not have an effect on germination percentage of Pinus roxburghii seedlings. A similar result was also reported by [19,20] on Virola koschny and Albizia lebbeck, respectively. However, the findings of the present study do not agree with the findings of [21] cited by [22] which reported that germination percentage was strongly influenced by seed size of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda), such that germination percentage difference was reported to be considerable between large, medium, and small seed.…”

Effectiveness of Integrated Indigenous-Technocrat Model in Restoring Controversial Forest Reserve Hotspot: The Case of Nkanya and Lusewa Rivers in Domasi Area, Zomba District

“…Therefore these must be considered in afforestation and reforestation projects. Trees such as Albizialebbeck, Faidherbiaalbida, Acacia polycantha and Senna siamea or Cassia Siameaare recommended for reforestation in many areas worldwide as well as in Malawi especially in riparian system and in agroforestry programmes because they have multipurpose characteristics, provide quick benefit to the ecosystem and human, and have no or little negative ecological effect on the riparian system [16]- [18]. However the information on the initial establishment and growth rates of these trees species in Malawian conditions is not available.…”

Influence of anthropogenic activities on the initial establishment and growth rate of introduced Senna siamea in Zomba-Malosa Forest Reserve, Malawi

“…Trees such as Albizia lebbeck, Faidherbia albida, Acacia polyacantha, and Senna siamea or Cassia siamea are recommended for reforestation in many areas worldwide as well as in Malawi, especially in riparian systems and in agroforestry programmes because they have multipurpose characteristics, provide quick benefit to the ecosystem and human, and have no or little negative ecological effect on the riparian system [5], [6], [7]. However, the information on the initial establishment and growth rates of these tree species in Malawian conditions is not available but in Karnataka, India, a height increment of 2.5 m per year of S. siamea has been recorded, and in 3 years in West Bengal, trees were almost 8 m tall with a stem girth of 25 cm [8].…”