A field experiment was carried out during the seasons of 2005 and 2006
at Orman Botanical Garden, Giza, Egypt to study the effect of some scarification
treatments on germination parameters, endocarp constituents and the quality of
doum (Hyphaene thebaica, L. Mart.) seedlings.
The results indicated that endocarp punching or removal treatments
slightly improved characters of germination and seedlings quality, which were
significant in some cases, specially for punching treatments, while clefting the
bare endocarp reduced such parameters to the minimal values in most cases of
both seasons. However, the previous three treatments didn't obviously affect
thickness, strength and chemical constituents of the bony endocarp. On the other
hand, soaking in concentrated H2SO4, specially for 6 hrs., significantly improved
germination (%), germination velocity, mean germination rate, germination rate
index, vigour index and quality of the resulted seedlings; which assessed as first
leaf length, root branchlets number/ seedling and aerial parts and roots fresh
and dry weights. The least means for endocarp thickness, strength and chemical
constituents were also referred to the acid scarification with concentrated
H2SO4 treatments.
Hence, soaking the bare seeds of doum (Hyphaene thebaica, L. Mart.) in
concentrated H2SO4 for 6 hrs. can be recommended as a simple, cheap and
quick way for high germination percent and good quality of seedlings.