E.I. Aigbokhan

Germination is the process through which a seed begins to grow and develop into a new plant, driven by the embryo’s ability to restart its metabolic activities within the seed. Tetrapleura tetraptera, commonly known as Aridan fruit, is a medicinal plant found mainly in the lowland forests of tropical Africa, while Entandrophragma cylindricum, known as the Sapele tree, is a prized timber species that grows widely across the same region. Both trees serve many purposes as they are valuable sources of medicine for treating various ailments and are also used for firewood, charcoal, and timber production. This study investigated how different pre-treatment methods affect the germination of T. tetraptera and E. cylindricum seeds to find effective ways of overcoming seed dormancy and improving seedling production for reforestation and conservation. Seeds from both species were exposed to various scarification methods, including acid treatment with hydrochloric acid, dry heat, hot water, and mechanical rubbing with sandpaper, while untreated seeds served as a control. The treated seeds were planted in bags and observed for several days. However, none of the seeds germinated, suggesting that they are highly dormant and resistant to the applied treatments. The results from this study highlight the need for more advanced dormancy-breaking techniques to improve the propagation success and ensure the conservation of these forest trees, which are gradually declining due to deforestation and overexploitation.