Pretreatment effect on amelioration of seed germination of zollinger’s indigo (indigofera zollingeriana miq.)

Abstract

Indigofera zollingeriana is one of Indigofera species distributed in Indonesia and known as forage crop. Seed is an important factor which influences cultivation of I. zollingeriana due to low seed germination. The objective of the research was to determine the effect of different pre-treatment as chemical scarification (98% of H2SO4, 0.3% of KNO3, glycerine (C3H8O3) at 70°C), hot water at 70°C with different duration of immersion or soaking and mechanical scarification using sand paper on I. zollingeriana’s seed germination. Pre-treatment had significant differences and improved germination percentage, germination speed index and shoot length. The positive correlation was noted between germination percentage and germination speed index.