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Effect of different pre-sowing seed treatments on the germination of Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) and Acacia farnesiana (L.)

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Abstract

Leucaena leucocephala and Acacia farnesiana are tree species used for several agricultural purposes in the Mediterranean region. The seeds of these species exhibit dormancy, causing delayed germination. Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of pre-sowing treatments (scarification, hot water, or soaking) on seed germination of L. leucocephala and A. farnesiana. In one experiment, seeds were exposed to three pre-sowing treatments: control, sandpaper scarification, or soaking in 70°C water for 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, or 24 min. In another experiment, seeds were soaked in 70°C water for 20 min, and then soaked in water at room temperature for an additional 24, 48, or 72 h or blade scarified. In general, soaking the seeds of the two species in hot water was more effective in breaking seed dormancy than scarification. Sandpaper scarification was not effective for either species. Blade scarification increased A. farnesiana seed germination to 56%, indicating that seed dormancy was mainly a consequence of hardseededness. L. leucocephala seeds collected from Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST) site and soaked in 70°C water for 20 min and then soaked for 24, 48, or 72 h had germination rates above 97%. Our results suggest that blade scarification of A. farnesiana seeds and soaking of L. leucocephala seeds in 70°C water for 20 min are effective treatments to break seed dormancy and enhance seed germination of these vital species.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the financial support of the Deanship of Scientific Research at the Jordan University of Science & Technology. The authors would like to thank Dr. Katie Newman (University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, USA) for reviewing this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Faculty of Agriculture, Jordan University of Science and Technology, P. O. Box 3030, Irbid, 22110, Jordan

    Maher J. Tadros

  2. Department of Crop Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Jordan University of Science and Technology, P. O. Box 3030, Irbid, 22110, Jordan

    Nezar H. Samarah & Ahmad M. Alqudah

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  1. Maher J. Tadros
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  2. Nezar H. Samarah
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  3. Ahmad M. Alqudah
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Correspondence to Maher J. Tadros.

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Tadros, M.J., Samarah, N.H. & Alqudah, A.M. Effect of different pre-sowing seed treatments on the germination of Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) and Acacia farnesiana (L.). New Forests 42, 397–407 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11056-011-9260-1

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