Effect of bioregulator on germination and early seedling growth of African star apple (<i>Chrysophyllum albidum</i> G. Don)

Abstract

An experiment was conducted at Imo State University farm, Owerri to evaluate the effect of bioregulator on germination and early seedling growth of African star apple which serves as fruit, food, feed and environmental pollution control against climate change. Completely Randomized Design was used with four treatments and sixteen replicates. Different levels of coconut water served as treatments; 0 cl, 5 cl, 10 cl and 15 cl. They were sown after soaking in the solution for 24 hours in 64 polythene bags each containing 6 kg top soil. Data on germination and early seedling growth parameters were collected. Seedling height, number of leaves and leaf area were also collected 10 weeks after germination. Results showed that the highest germination percentage of 91 %, significantly (P<0.05) different from control was obtained from the solution containing 15 cl coconut water. Highest number of days to 50% germination was 56 days obtained from solution containing 0 cl coconut water and differed significantly (P<0.05) from others. Solution containing 15 cl, 10 cl, and 5 cl coconut water gave the largest mean seedling leaf area of 56.70 cm2, 32.99 cm², and 26.38 cm² respectively significantly (P<0.05) different from control at 10 weeks after planting. 15 cl coconut water gave the best result for germination and seedling growth of African star apple seed and therefore recommended.