Seed emergence response of African horned melon (Cucumis metuliferus) to pre-sowing conditioning treatments
- Author
- Bhobho, Leopold.
- Title
- Seed emergence response of African horned melon (Cucumis metuliferus) to pre-sowing conditioning treatments
- Abstract
-
Because of its high nutritive value, the African horned melon (Cucumis metuliferus) is posed as an important crop for nutrition security globally. However, its productivity is constrained by poor and uneven germination. This current study aimed to establishing the optimal soaking and heat treatment pre-sowing seed treatments that can improve germination percentages and to reduce time that is required by the seed to germinate. The objectives of this study were to determine the role of soaking seeds in hot water on germination time and germination percentage and the role of heat treatment on seed germination time and germination percentage. The experiments were laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD), with 3 replications, with two factors (white and yellow coat accessions), with eight and sixteen treatments for two experiments. Results of the two experiments revealed significant interactions (p<0.05) between the accessions and either, heat and soaking treatment. Yellow accession reduced germination percentages with increased soaking duration and temperature while more-like similar tendencies were observed with the white accession but, both accessions shortened their germination times by a mean of two days. Results showed that pre-sowing treatment in warm water for more minutes and of high temperature not exceeding 60oC, improves germination of C. metuliferus. Therefore, if such technologies are adopted by farmers, production of the micronutrient-rich crop can be boosted.
Keywords: Cucumis metuliferus, seed dormancy, pre-sowing treatments, thermal scarification, cucurbitacins, food security.
- Date
- June 2025
- Publisher
- BUSE
- Keywords
- Seed germination
- Seed dormancy
- Supervisor
- Nil
- Item sets
- Department of Crop Sciences
