Improving Seed Germination of Carob and Subsequent Seedling Growth

Document Type : Original Article

Abstract

The husk of carob seeds is very hard, therefore, its germination percentage is very low and the seeds need a long time to germinate. To get a good germination percentage of carob seeds, the seeds of carob should be scarified or treated by chemicals to improve their germination. The present study was carried out during the two successive seasons of 2019 and 2020 at the greenhouse in the experimental orchard of the Faculty of Agriculture, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt. Mechanical scarification, GA3 (250 & 500 ppm), IBA (200 & 400 ppm), and hotbed were used to evaluate their effects on carob seed germination. Hotbed (40oC) gave the most beneficial effect in improving germination percentage (93.3 and 100% , respectively in the two seasons, compared to control (16.7 and 25%) followed by GA3 then IBA treatments and increased germination index 6-7 fold of control. Not only that, but hotbed treatment improved the growth of carob seedlings.

Keywords

Main Subjects