Breaking Seed Dormancy: Effect of Heat and Vimpel® on Oil Palm Seed Germination (EIaeis guineensis Jacq)

Abstract

Oil palm (E. guineensis) is native to Africa and among highest oilseeds crop in the world, having a dormant seeds which require pre-treatments to quicken the germination process. The objective of this experiment is to evaluate the effects of Vimpel growth regulator on germination of Oil palm seedlings. The viable seeds of oil palm were treated with vimpel solution at different stages of the germination process tagged as A (+ Vimpel before heat), B (+Vimpel after heat), C (+Vimpel without heat) D (0 vimpel) E (+ Vimpel prior and after heat) and F (Water prior and after heating/Control) and then subjected to six different temperature regime i.e. 2,4,6,8, 10 and 12 weeks in the germination chamber. The result indicates that group A had the highest germination percentage at 10 weeks of heat treatment followed by B at 8 weeks of temperature while group F (control) had the lowest percentage. Conclusively, the vimpel growth regulator has significant effects in facilitating the germination process by 40 days against 80 days of heat treatment currently use in the oil palm seed germination.