Year: 2014
Type: article
Abstract: Schefflera abyssinica is indigenous bee forage tree species promising for honey production. However due to lack of appropriate propagation methods; S. abyssinica is not promoted in wide scale plantation. Therefore, the main objectives of this study were to develop and evaluate appropriate seed pretreatment procedures to improve the germination percentage, and assessing the impacts of seed provenances on the growth performance of this plant. Germination trials were conducted in laboratory, and plastic house at Holeta Bee Research Center and Holeta Agricultural Research Center using mature seed collected from mother trees using treatment of smoke solution and soaking seeds in different chemicals. The result indicated, there was significant improvement in germination capacity and vigor of S. abyssinica after pre-treated with aqueous smoke solution (p<0.05) particularly at low concentration. Pre-treated seeds of S. abyssinica with 1% chlorox, 70% alcohol, imidalm and Ridoml gold chemicals resulted no significant (P<0.05) increases, in the final germination percentage as compared to the controls. Seed provenances affect the germination capacity of S. abyssinica and their survival rate. S. abyssinica can be propagated by seed by producing seedlings and it can grow alone without need of other tree species as an epiphyte.
Author: Tura Bareke Kifle
Institution: Oromia Agricultural Research Institute
Language: English
Subfield: Plant Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDGs: Zero hunger, Life on land
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W2143221301