Seed dormancy breakage, enhance germination and growth performances of Parkia biglobosa seeds using concentrated H2SO4

The present study investigated the effectiveness of H₂SO₄ pretreatment on seed dormancy breakage and growth parameters of Parkia biglobosa seedling.  Parkia biglobosa seeds were soaked in 100% concentrated H₂S0₄, 2 to 10 minutes at an interval of 2 minutes and from 15 to 185 minutes at an interval of 5minutes. Data including germination rate of the seed for each treatment were recorded and percentage germination were computed. Seedling parameters including numbers of leaves, stem height and stem stem girth were also recorded at 2 weeks intervals. H₂SO₄ pretreatment of P. biglobosa enhanced seed emergence with maximum effect (90 % and 100% emergence) at 20- and 40-minutes treatment. A progressive decrease in seed emergence were however recorded from 60 minutes of pretreatment onward. The stem girth, stem height and leaf counts of H₂SO₄ pretreated P. biglobosa increases with H₂SO₄ pretreatment time from 2 minutes and peaked up maximally at 40 minutes after which a progressive decrease were recorded from 60 minutes of pretreatment onward. The stem height and leaf count also increase with increase day of germination with maximal effect occurring between 14 and 70 days.  In conclusion, H₂SO₄ pretreatments of the seeds of P. biglobosa may be effective for breaking dormancy and improving the seedling growth which can enhance the domestication and cultivation of these valuable seeds in the environment.