EFFECT OF PRE-SOWING TREATMENT ON SEED GERMINATION OF LOHAKATH (XYLIA KERRII CRAIB & HUTCH.)

Abstract

Lohakath (Xylia kerrii Craib & Hutch.), a valuable timber species in Bangladesh, belongs to the family Leguminosae. Morphology of fruits, seeds and the effect pre-sowing treatments of seeds were studied. The average length, breath and thickness of fruits were found 13.3, 5.3 and 0.8 cm respectively and those of seeds were 1.4, 0.3 and 0.3 cm respectively. Number of seeds per kilogram was 5000-5400. The germination test was done by sowing the seeds in polybags (4 cm x 6 cm) filled with a mixture of topsoil, coconut husk compost, coarse sand and fine sand in the ratio of 3:4:1:1. The highest germination percentage (98%) was found in scarification with sand paper. The lowest germination percentage (53%) was found in control. About 87% was found in hot water (80 °C) immersion (10 minutes), 84% was found in 80% concentrated H2SO4, 63% was found in immersion in cold water (4 °C) for 12 hours. As the use of sulphuric acid and scarification techniques are somewhat risky and trouble some, therefore, pre-sowing treatment of Lohakath seed for germination in rural Bangladesh could be hot water immersion method.