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Enhancing germination and seedling growth in Vitexdoniana Sweet for horticultural prospects and conservationof genetic resources

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 June 2014

Sognigbé N’Danikou ,
Enoch G. Achigan-Dako ,
Dèdéou A. Tchokponhoué ,
Françoise Assogba Komlan ,
Jens Gebauer ,
Raymond S. Vodouhè  and
Adam Ahanchédé
Sognigbé N’Danikou*
Affiliation:
Hortic. Genet. Unit, Fac. Agron. Sci, Univ. Abomey-Calavi, 01 BP 526, Tripostal Cotonou, Rep. Benin Bioversity Int., West Central Afr. office, 08 BP 0932, Cotonou, Rep. Benin. ndanikou@gmail.com
Enoch G. Achigan-Dako
Affiliation:
Hortic. Genet. Unit, Fac. Agron. Sci, Univ. Abomey-Calavi, 01 BP 526, Tripostal Cotonou, Rep. Benin
Dèdéou A. Tchokponhoué
Affiliation:
Hortic. Genet. Unit, Fac. Agron. Sci, Univ. Abomey-Calavi, 01 BP 526, Tripostal Cotonou, Rep. Benin
Françoise Assogba Komlan
Affiliation:
Ntl. Agric. Res. Inst. Benin (INRAB), BP 884 Cotonou, Repub Benin
Jens Gebauer
Affiliation:
Fac. Life Sci., Hochschule Rhein-Waal, Marie-Curie-Straße 1, D-47533 Kleve, Germany
Raymond S. Vodouhè
Affiliation:
Bioversity Int., West Central Afr. office, 08 BP 0932, Cotonou, Rep. Benin. ndanikou@gmail.com
Adam Ahanchédé
Affiliation:
Hortic. Genet. Unit, Fac. Agron. Sci, Univ. Abomey-Calavi, 01 BP 526, Tripostal Cotonou, Rep. Benin
*
* Correspondence and reprints
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Abstract

Introduction. Many fruit trees with a hard seed coat exhibit seed dormancy, posing problems for their regeneration. Vitex doniana, an indigenous multipurpose but threatened fruit and vegetable tree that supports the livelihoods of many households in West Africa, is a typical example. Materials and methods. In our research, we evaluated five dormancy-breaking treatments. We tested the effects of sulphuric acid at 95% concentration (T1); 3 d sun-drying + 48 h soaking in tap water (T2); 3 d alternation of 8 h sun-drying + 1 h soaking in tap water (T3); 2 weeks sun-drying with regular watering in the daytime (T4); and physical shock (T5). These treatments were compared with two controls (T0 and Tc), with seeds from two different sources. The germination percentage, mean germination time, time to first germination and time to threshold germination (20%) were compared; the seedling height, diameter and biomass produced were monitored for 15 weeks. We used generalised linear models and correlation tests to compare the effects of the various treatments on germination and seedling growth. Results and discussion. T3 significantly enhanced seed germination in V. doniana (72% after 12 months). T4 best promoted homogeneity in germination (p < 0.01), followed by T3. The best seedling growth was obtained with T4 and T3. Alternation of sun-drying followed by soaking of seeds, a technique with almost no cost, improved seed germination in V. doniana and, in 33 d, just over 1 month, 20% germination can be achieved. Vitex doniana is a fast-growing species (at the nursery stage), in contrast to the common opinion. Conclusion. Our method should be further investigated to assess the adequate soaking and drying length so as to speed up germination and reach homogenous cohorts.

Keywords

BeninVitex donianaplant domesticationsexual reproductionseed dormancyseed germinationseedlingsgrowth rateBéninVitex donianadomestication des plantesreproduction sexuéedormance des semencesgermination des grainesplantuletaux de croissanceBeninVitex donianadomesticación de plantasreproducción sexualdormancia de semillasgerminación de las semillasplántulasíndice de crecimiento
Type
Original article
Information
Fruits , Volume 69 , Issue 4 , July 2014 , pp. 279 - 291
Copyright
© 2014 Cirad/EDP Sciences

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