ASSESSMENT OF BIO-STIMULATORY EFFECTS OF A BRYOPHYTE SPECIES ON GERMINATION AND GROWTH OF ZEA MAYS L. AND VIGNA UNGUICULATA (L.) WALP.

Abstract

Aqueous extracts and litters of the moss Archidium ohioense were prepared. This was with a view to investigating the bio-stimulatory potential of the moss plant on the germination of Zea mays and Vigna unguiculata seeds. The moss sample was collected on the Obafemi Awolowo University campus, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. The collected sample was air dried at an ambient temperature in the laboratory. Four different extract concentrations of the moss plant were prepared by soaking 20 g and 40 g of the air-dried sample separately in 400 ml distilled water, each for 24 and 48 hours. Crushed litter of the air-dried moss sample (2.5 g) was also weighed into sterile Petri-dishes. The various extract concentrations and the crushed litter were experimented for their effects on the germination of Z. mays and V. unguiculata seeds following a method that was based on those earlier reported with a slight modification. The results of the experiment showed no inhibitory effect on the germination of the experimented seeds but enhanced the germination of seeds of both Z. mays and V. unguiculata and promoted their growth. The study concluded that the aqueous extract of A. ohioense enhanced the germination and growth of seeds both in Z. mays and V. unguiculata, and can be considered as a safer alternative to synthetic plant growth promoters.