Effects of desiccants, packaging materials and storage periods on seed quality and longevity dynamics of three indigeneous forest tree species

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SEPTEMBER, 2016
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Abstract
This study was carried out to determine the effects of seed desiccants, packaging materials and storage periods on seed quality and longevity dynamics of three very important indigenous forest tree species. The experimental period was December, 2015 to June, 2016. Seed collection was done at the Bobiri Forest Reserve. The desiccation experiment was set up using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three (3) replications for each of the three species. The seed storage experiment was set up using 3 x 6 factorial arrangements in Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with three replications for each of the three species. Seed storage experiment was conducted using six packaging materials (jute, nylon, paper, ziplock bag, airtight bottle and no packaging) with three storage periods (no storage, three months storage and six months storage). Germination percentage, seed vigour, 1000 seed weight, moisture content, seed health analysis, carbohydrate, protein and oil contents were assessed before storage, three and six months after storage. The study revealed that the beads dried the seeds of Pericopsis elata within 2 days, 3 days to dry Sterculia rhinopetala seeds and 12 days to dry G. cedrata, which was much faster than the rest of the desiccants without any deleterious effect on seed quality and longevity. Pericopsis elata and Sterculia rhinopetala showed orthodox seed storage behavior by surviving drying to a lower moisture content hence improving storability when packaged in airtight bottle (3.5%) and ziplock bags (3.5%) storage periods increased. The seed carbohydrates, proteins and oils for Pericopsis elata and Sterculia rhinopetala were maintained in the airtight packaging materials thereby improving seed storability. The dormancy of Sterculia rhinopetala was released by using GA3 with a germination percentage of 96.33%. Moist saw dust significantly extended the life span of the Guarea cedrata seeds for at least 21 days. A total number of nine fungi isolates were identified v during storage. The seed viability equations predicted that P. elata and S. rhinopetala seeds could be stored for 200 years and 177 years, respectively, after six months of storage. Seed viability dropped significantly (155 days for P. elata and 79 days for S. rhinopetala) after the accelerated aging test performed on the six-months old seeds. The study concluded that P. elata and S. rhinopetala could best be dried with beads at a faster rate and subsequently stored for a longer period using airtight packaging materials whilst G. cedrata, could be stored in a moist saw dust.
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A thesis submitted to the School of Graduate Studies, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the award of Master of Philosophy (M.Phil. Seed Science and Technology) Degree.
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