Authors: Chisha-Kasumu, E.; Woodward, S.; Price, A.

Source: Southern Hemisphere Forestry Journal, Volume 69, Number 1, March 2007 , pp. 63-70(8)

Publisher: NISC Pty Ltd

Abstract:

Pterocarpus angolensis is a savanna tree species growing mostly in the miombo and undifferentiated woodlands found in the southern and central parts of Africa. Exploitation for its medicinal and commercial uses has led to a diminishing of wild populations. Artificial propagation, domestication and exploitation in a sustainable manner depend on detailed knowledge on germination of the seeds. The effects of eight potential dormancy-breaking treatments, compared with no treatment, on promoting the germination of P. angolensis seeds were examined. Five seed provenances were used, namely Mufulira and Chati from Zambia, and Gokwe, Matopos and Mtao from Zimbabwe. Seeds were treated by nicking to remove a small piece of seed coat near to the radical, soaking in cold water or an aqueous solution of gibberellic acid (GA₃ at 10, 50, 100 or 1 000ppm; GA_4/7 at 10 or 1 000ppm). Treatments with gibberellic acids, regardless of the concentration, had little effect on germination rates when compared with the control seeds. With nicking, high and rapid rates of germination occurred for all provenances within approximately 5d of sowing the seeds, suggesting that nicking alone could improve seed germination.

Keywords: GERMINATION; GIBBERELLIC ACID; PROVENANCE; PTEROCARPUS ANGOLENSIS; SEED SCARIFICATION

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2989/SHFJ.2007.69.1.9.171

Publication date: 2007-03-01

More about this publication?

• Prior to 2007, this journal was titled the Southern African Forestry Journal. These back issues may be accessed here. The Southern Hemisphere Forestry Journal publishes scientific articles in forest science and management of fast-growing, planted or natural forests in the Southern Hemisphere and the tropics. Papers are also encouraged on related disciplines such as environmental aspects of forestry, social forestry, agroforestry, forest engineering and management as well as the goods and services that are derived from forests as a whole. Articles published by the journal are of value to forest scientists, resource managers and society at large. The journal particularly encourages contributions from South America, Africa and tropical/sub-tropical Australasia and Asia.

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