Two factorial experiments were conducted during 2006 and 2007 seasons under glass house conditions of Efficient Productivity Institute, Zagazig University to assess the effectiveness of some seed scarification treatments (without scarification as control, dipping in hot water 80 oC and left seeds to cool in water for 24 hours , soaking in warm water 28 oC for 24 hours and soaking in concentrated sulfuric acid for 15 minutes) and some plant growth regulators (PGR) treatments (without PGR as control, soaking seeds in gibberellic acid solution at 300 ppm for 24 hours or soaking seeds in kinetin solution at 50 ppm for 24 hours) as well as their interactions (scarification X PGR) on Ravenala madagascariensis seed germination and seedling growth.
Subjecting seeds to warm water scarification resulted in the highest germination % at the end of the germination testing period and significantly increased both speed and value of germination comparing to control or acid scarification. In addition, both warm water and acid scarification significantly increased seedling growth rate (mg dry weight/ day) and seedling length rate (mm tall/ day).
Soaked-seeds in GA3 solution at 300 ppm for 24 hours were significantly earlier in protrusion their seedlings and resulted in the highest values represented germination percentage, germination value, seedling vigor and plant growth parameters (plant height, leaf No/ plant, shoot fresh and dry weights/ plant) as compare to soaked seeds in kinetin at 50 ppm or control treatment.
Interaction treatments between scarification and soaking in PGR showed that the more pronounced enhancing effect on germination percentage, germination speed, germination value, seedling vigor and plant growth parameters was found when seeds were subjected to warm water scarification for 24 hours and then soaked in GA3 at 300 ppm for another 24 hours. Acid scarification when interacted with PGR accelerated germination, but resulted in the least values of germination % comparing to the other interaction treatments.