Effect of Seed Source on Germination and Early Seedling Growth of Heinsia crinita (Afzel.) G. Taylor

• H.I. Aigbe

  Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Port Harcourt, Choba, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

  Author

• C. Fredrick

  Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Port Harcourt, Choba, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

  Author

• G.E. Omokhua

  Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Port Harcourt, Choba, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

  Author

Seed germination and early growth rates of Heinsia crinita from four sources in Nigeria were conducted. Seeds of H. crinita were collected from Benin, Port Harcourt, Umuahia and Calabar and examined for variation in germination performance and early seedling growth attributes. A total of 400 seeds (4 replicate of 100 seeds) per location were sown and germination was monitored every day from the date of sowing for 30 days or until there was no further germination for a few days. Following germination, fifty (50) seedlings at uniform height from each location were selected and transplanted into polythene bags filled with topsoil collected from forest floor. The growth parameters such as root and shoot length, leaf area, leaf production and seedling biomass were assessed at six months after planting. Analysis of variance revealed significant difference (p < 0.05) in germination of seeds from the different sources as well as significant differences (p < 0.05) in all studied growth attributes of the seedlings from the different seed sources after 6 months of growth. Seeds from Calabar gave the highest germination percentage (92%), followed by seeds from Umuahia (86%) while the lowest germination percentage (54%) was recorded for seed from Benin City. Commencement of germination was earliest (8 days after sowing) in Calabar seed source, which was closely followed by seeds from Umuahia that commenced germination 10 days after sowing. Seedlings from Calabar seed source had the highest mean values for all the seedling growth attributes investigated. There was significant difference in the dry weight seedlings from the different seed sources at 0.05 significant level. Seedlings from Calabar seed source produced the largest amount of dry weight (3.34 g plant-1), while seedlings from Benin City seed source had lowest dry weight of 1.67g plant-1. Seed sources with higher longitude tend to perform better in terms of germination and produce seedlings with better growth attributes. The study has shown that the choice of an appropriate seed source is an important process in restoration and domestication of the plant species.

1. H.I. Aigbe, Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Port Harcourt, Choba, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

   Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Port Harcourt, Choba, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

2. C. Fredrick, Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Port Harcourt, Choba, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

   Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Port Harcourt, Choba, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

3. G.E. Omokhua, Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Port Harcourt, Choba, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

   Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Port Harcourt, Choba, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

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