Effect of pre-sowing treatments on seed germination and initial seedling growth performance of Canarium resiniferum: A native threatened tree of Bangladesh

Abstract

Canarium resiniferum is an economically and aesthetically important native threatened tree species of Bangladesh. In natural condition 78.5 - 98.7% seeds do not germinate due to seed predation. A study was conducted in the Seed Research Laboratory and nursery of Institute of Forestry and Environmental Sciences Chittagong University, Bangladesh in 2013 to find out appropriate pre-sowing treatment for maximizing germination and initial seedling growth. Eleven pre-sowing treatments were provided in both the seeds sown in polybags and seeds sown in propagator house. Results revealed that, germination started at first (after 20 days of seed sown) in seeds immersed in cold water for 24 hours and germination completed within 38 days. Significantly higher (p<0.05) germination percentage (33%), germination energy (16.7%), plant percent (33%) and germination value (0.4) was found with seeds immersed in cold water for 24 hours. Seedling height measured at three, four and five months after the seed germination in case of seeds treated by immersion in cold water for 24 hours was also greater than others. Therefore, pre-sowing treatment by immersion in cold water for 24 hours was more effective in germination and production of quality vigor seedling of Dhup (C. resiniferum).