Effect of scarification on breaking seed dormancy and germination enhancement in Annona muricata L. (Magnoliales: Annonaceae)

The effect of various scarification method on breaking seed dormancy and germination enhancement in Annona muricata (Magnoliales: Annonaceae) was examined in this study via: mechanical scarification with sandpaper, file and stone; chemical scarification with 10, 25 and 50% H2SO4 for 5 seconds respectively; exposure to wet heat (hot water) for 1, 3 and 5 seconds; exposure to cold treatment by chilling in refrigerator of 4 ºC for 12, 18 and 24 hours; soaking in coconut water for 5, 10 and 15min and untreated seeds as the control. The results of the experiment showed that chemical scarification with H2SO4 at 50% for 5 seconds had significantly highest percentage germination (60%). This was followed by the seeds soaked in coconut water for 15 minutes (39.69). Seeds treated with 25% H2SO4 for 5 seconds had 30% germination. Other treatment were less or not effective. Untreated seeds had the least percentage germination (6%) with mean germination time of 40.20 and germination index of 0.27. The treatments that gave significantly higher germination percentages also produce low Mean Germination Time (30.01) and increased Germination Index (12.26). These characters shows that chemical scarification with H2SO4 at 50% for 5 seconds was the most effective treatment to break dormancy and enhancing seed germination in this species as revealed in this study.