Short Communication

Improving seed germination of Stylosanthes guianensis by means of warm water treatment

Published in: South African Journal of Plant and Soil
Volume 18 , issue 2 , 2001 , pages: 85–86

DOI: 10.1080/02571862.2001.10634409

Author(s): M. Erasmus Department of Agronomy, Republic of South Africa , P.J. Pieterse Department of Agronomy, Republic of South Africa

Keywords: germination , hard-coated seeds , Stylosanthes guianensis , warm water treatments

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Abstract

The effect of different warm water treatments on the dormancy of hard-coated Stylosanthes guianensis seeds was investigated. Light and dark coloured seeds were placed into water at different temperatures. Warm water treatments induced a large number of soft-coated seeds. The optimum treatment for increasing germination percentage and germination rate was immersion in water at 60°C. Temperatures higher than 60°C led to a rapid decrease in germination due to loss of viability. Dark coloured seeds appeared to be more dormant than light coloured seeds.

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