EFFECT OF SOME GROWTH HORMONES ON SEED GERMINATION AND SEEDLING GROWTH OF SOME SAVANNA TREE LEGUMES

EFFECT OF SOME GROWTH HORMONES ON SEED GERMINATION AND SEEDLING GROWTH OF SOME SAVANNA TREE LEGUMES

1EBOFIN, A. O., 1D. A. AGBOOLA*, M. S. AYODELE AND 2A. M. ADURADOLA
1Department of Biological Sciences, University of Agriculture, P.M.B. 2240, Abeokuta, Nigeria. 2Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, University of Agriculture, P.M.B. 2240, Abeokuta, Nigeria.
*Corresponding Author: email: jareagbo@yahoo.com

Accepted on September 30, 2003.

Abstract
Studies were made on the effect of some growth hormones including Indole Acetic Acid (IAA), Indole Butyric Acid (IBA), Kinetin and Gibberellic Acid (GA3) on seed germination and seedling growth of four savanna tree legumes.  The tree species include Prosopis africana (Guil & Perr) Taub (Mimosoidae); Parkia biglobosa (Jacq) R. Br. Ex G. Don (Mimosoidae); Albizia lebbeck (Linn) Benth (Mimosoidae) and Senna  siamea (Lam) Irwin Barneby (Caesalpinoidae). 0.01 – 0.04 ppm IAA enhanced germination in A. lebbeck, P. biglobosa, P. africana and S. siamea. 0.01 – 0.05 ppm IBA enhanced germination in P. africana and S. siamea.  0.01 – 0.05 ppm kinetin retarded germination in P. biglobosa, P. africana and S. siamea. 0.01 – 0.05 ppm – GA3 enhanced germination in A. lebbeck and P. africana.  0.01 -0.05 ppm IAA enhanced plant height and dry weight in the seedlings of the four tree species.  0.01 – 0.03 ppm IBA enhanced plant height and dry weight in S. siamea and only plant height only in P. biglobosa.  IBA (0.03 – 0.04 ppm) enhanced leaf number in P. biglobosa and A. lebbeck.  Kinetin (0.01 – 0.05 ppm) enhanced leaf number in P. biglobosa.  GA3 enhanced leaf number and plant height in P. biglobosa and plant height in A. lebbeck.

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