J. Env. Bio-Sci., 2015: Vol.

29 (2):367-372
(367) ISSN 0973-6913 (Print), ISSN 0976-3384 (On Line)

CHEMICAL SEED PRE-TREATMENTS FOR BETTER GERMINATION AND SEEDLING GROWTH

OF SWIETENIA MACROPHYLLA KING
Vikas Kumar1, Ajeesh, R. and Jijeesh, C.M.
1
Department of Silviculture and Agroforestry, College of Forestry, Kerala Agricultural University, KAU, Thrissur, Kerala (India)
[Corresponding author E-mail1: vkskumar49@gmail.com]

Received: 10-04-2015 Accepted: 31-07-2015

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the influence of different chemical pre-treatments on seed germination and early
seedling performance of Swietenia macrophylla in the nursery. The study was carried out at College of Forestry, Kerala Agricultural
University, Thrissur, Kerala during August 2013 to July 2014. The seeds were subjected eight pre-sowing treatments including
soaking in six chemicals and water and other without any treatment. Results of the study indicated that the germination
parameters of the seeds were significantly influenced by chemical pre-treatments and the highest germination percentage
(82.33), Mean Daily Germination (2.29) and Peak Value of Germination (2.77) were observed for 100 ppm benzyl adenine for 12 hrs
(T3). The pre-treatment also influenced the initial seedling performance and the seedlings treated with one per cent potassium
nitrate for 12 hrs (T5) recorded higher growth attributes and biomass production which was evidenced by the higher quality
indices of those seedlings.

Mahogany is a large, tropical deciduous tree species
belonging to the Meliaceae family. It is the most important
timber tree species in neo-tropical forests, with its natural
range extending from southern Mexico to an arc along the
southern Amazon basin of Bolivia, Brazil and Peru1-3. The
fruits are commonly known as “sky fruit” because it seems
to point up towards the sky4. Both deforestation and timber
harvesting have severely decreased the abundance of
mahogany across much of its range, leading to concern
about the survival of many populations of the species, as
well as the sustainability of its commercial trade5-6. Since
the restrictions in logging of this tree in its native habitats
were imposed, it has been introduced into several Asian
countries in plantation environments. The mahogany timber
grown in these Asian plantations is the major source of
international trade in genuine mahogany today. In the recent
years mahogany gained a wide acceptance among the tree
growers in Kerala.
Quality planting stock production is of paramount importance
in any tree planting programmes. Various pre-sowing
treatments have been commonly used in the nurseries to
obtain quick and uniform germination. The growth regulators
like gibberellic acid (GA3), benzyl adenine (BA) and
nitrogenous like KNO3, and thiourea are commonly used
chemicals to enhance seed germination. The studies on
pre-sowing treatments to enhance germination are scarce
on this species. Hence, the present study was undertaken
to evaluate the influence of different chemical pre-treatments
on seed germination and early seedling performance of
NAAS Rating (2016)-4.20
Swietenia macrophylla in the nursery.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
The study was carried out at College of Forestry, Kerala
Agricultural University, Thrissur, Kerala during August 2013
to July 2014. The nursery area is located at 40 meters above
mean sea level at 10032’N latitude and 76026’E longitude. The
area experiences a warm and humid climate with distinct
rainy season. Matured Swietenia macrophylla pods were
collected from the College of Forestry campus. The collected
fruits were brought to the Lab and the seeds were extracted.
The average number of seeds per pod and the number of seeds
per kg and were determined in 10 replications. The extracted
seeds were cleaned, and thoroughly hand mixed to improve
the homogeneity during the sampling. The individual seed
length, width and weight were recorded from 100 randomly
selected samples from the seed lot.
In order to determine the effect of different chemicals on
germination and seedling growth of S. macrophylla, the seeds
were subjected to pre-sowing treatments viz. T1: Control, T2:
Water soaking for 24 hrs, T3: soaking 100 ppm benzyl adenine
(BA) for 12 hrs, T4: soaking in 200 ppm gibberellic acid (GA3)
for 12 hrs, T5: soaking in 1 % potassium nitrate (KNO3) for 12
hrs, T6: soaking in 1 % thiourea for 12 hrs, T7: soaking in 1
% potassium sulphate for 12 hrs and T8: soaking in 1 %
potassium phosphate for 12 hrs. The pre-treated seeds were
sown (100 x 3) in polythene bags (11.43x15.24 cm, gauge 75
micron) containing the rooting medium soil, sand and FYM in

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 CHEMICAL SEED PRE - TREATMENTS FOR BETTER GERMINATION
the ratio 9:3:1 and daily germination counts were recorded.
At the end of the trial, the percentage and Peak Value of
germination and Germination Value (GV) of the species were
calculated as standard protocol7.
To estimate the effect of chemical treatments on the seedling
performance at nursery level, the seedlings subjected to
different pre-treatments were grown in nursery. Twelve
seedlings belonging to each pre-treatment were destructively
sampled at monthly intervals till 180th day of sowing to record
height, collar girth, tap root length, and total biomass (dried
to constant weight in an oven maintained at 70 0C±20C.
Seedling quality indices were deduced from these
observations. Quality index which is a measure to assess
the quality of seedling based on the height, stem diameter
and dry biomass was also calculated using the following
formula8.
Bio-volume index, which is a non-destructive quick method to
calculate the above-ground portion of the tree seedlings was
calculated using the formula suggested by Hatchell8.
The vigour index (VI) of the seedlings was calculated using
the formula VI1= Germination Percentage x (Shoot length +
Root length or total seedling length), VI2 = Germination
Percentage x total dry weight9.
Statistical analysis: The data were analysed using the IBM
SPSS Statistics 20. One-way ANOVA was used compare the
between treatment variation in all parameters. The data on
germination were subjected to one way analysis of variance
and the treatment means were compared with LSD (Least
Significant Difference) wherever necessary. The seedling
growth, biomass production and growth analysis and quality
indices were subjected to one way repeated ANOVA.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The pods of S. macrophylla were born in panicles at the
terminal portion of branch lets. The individual seed length was
7.36±1.07 cm, width 6.49±1.23 mm and weight 0.35±0.08 g
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(368)
and the number of seeds per kilogram was 2252.67±162.03
and number of seeds per pod was 62.00±4.00. Germination
parameters of the seeds were significantly influenced by
chemical treatments (Table-1). The highest germination
percentage (82.33 per cent), Mean Daily Germination (2.29)
and Peak Value of Germination (2.77) were observed for the
seeds treated with 100 ppm benzyl adenine (BA) for 12 hrs
(T3), whereas, the highest germination value (1.00) was
observed in the seeds treated with 1 % potassium nitrate
(KNO3) for 12 hrs (T5). The lower germination (8%), Mean
daily germination (0.21) and Peak Value of Germination (0.21)
were recorded on treating 1 % potassium nitrate (KNO3) for
12 hrs (T5) (Table-1). The lowest Germination Value (0.83)
was observed in seeds soaked in water for 24 hrs (T2) and
those treated with 100 ppm benzyl adenine (BA) for 12 hrs
(T3). In general, with the exception of T5, the seeds treated
with various chemicals recorded a higher germination than
control.
Effect of seed pre-treatment on seedling performance:
Analysis of variance revealed significant difference in shoot
height, tap root length, fresh weight of roots, root biomass,
fresh weight of shoot and shoot biomass due to chemical
treatment over time except collar diameter.
With the exception of 30 days after planting, the T5 (soaking
in KNO3) recorded the highest collar diameter and the least
collar diameter was recorded in T8 (treating with 1 % K2SO4).
At the end of 180 days after planting although statistically
not significant, higher collar diameter (4.96±0.29) was recorded
in T5 (Table-2).
Table 1. Germination parameters of Swietenia macrophylla
seeds as affected by pretreatments
 (369) KUMAR, AJEESH AND JIJEESH

Table 2. Growth attributes of Swietenia macrophylla as influenced by different pre-treatment at different

monthly intervals

Values with similar alphabet with in row at different fortnight are homogenous

With regards seedling height, till 120 days after planting, the
T5 recorded the largest seedling height and the lowest height
was recorded in T8, whereas, water soaking for 24 hrs (T2)
recorded the highest value at 150 and 180 days after planting.
At 180 days after planting the highest value was (42.24±1.01
cm) recorded for water soaking for 24 hrs (T2) which was 1.3
times more compared to the least (33.63±0.07 cm) height
occurred in seeds treated in 1 % potassium phosphate for 12
hrs (T8) (Table-3). Similar trend like collar diameter was
observed in the increase of root length due to treatments over
time. At 180 days after planting, tap root length was the highest
(42.44±1.00 cm) in seedlings obtained from the seeds soaked
1 % potassium nitrate (KNO3) and water soaking for 24 hrs
recorded the lowest (32.29±3.33 cm) tap root length (Table-2).
The biomass production of the seedlings also varied due to
the chemical treatments over the time. With some exceptions,
the T5 recorded the highest root fresh and dry weight. At the
end of 180 days after planting, the highest fresh weight of root

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 CHEMICAL SEED PRE-TREATMENTS FOR BETTER GERMINATION (370)

Table 3. The biomass production of Swietenia macrophylla as influenced by different pre-treatment at different
monthly intervals

(6.62±0.16 g) and shoot (6.46±0.31 g), biomass of shoot
(2.30±0.18 g) and root (2.24±0.06 g) were obtained for
seedlings obtained from 1 % KNO3 for 12 hrs (T5). The lowest
value of fresh weight of root (4.70±0.07 g) and shoot (5.12±0.04
g), biomass of shoot (1.52±0.15 g) and root (1.55±0.17 g)
were obtained for seedlings obtained from 1 % K2SO4 for 12
hrs (T8) (Table-3).
Analysis of variance revealed significant difference in vigour
index1, vigour index2, and bio-volume and quality index due to
chemical pre-treatments over time (Table-4). The vigour index
1 and 2 of the seedlings belonging to different chemical pre-
treatments was the highest in T3 (treating with 100 ppm BA
for 12 hrs) and the least values were recorded in T5. At the
end of 180 days after planning the highest vigour index1
(6274.37±28.41) was recorded for (T3) which was 9.4 times
more compared to the least (670.40±6.44) value recorded for
T5. Similarly, highest vigour index2 (298.59±15.09) was
recorded for T3 and the lowest value (36.35±1.89) recorded in
T5. However, the Biovolume index was highest (414.95±20.61)
in seedlings treated with 1 % KNO3 for 12 hrs (T5) and it was

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 (371) KUMAR, AJEESH AND JIJEESH

Table 4. Quality parameters of Swietenia macrophylla as influenced by different pre-treatment at different monthly
intervals

Values with similar alphabet with in row at different fortnight are homogenous

the lowest (276.76±35.14) in 1 % potassium phosphate for
12 hrs (T8) at the end of the study. The quality index also was
the highest (0.43±0.01) for seedlings of T5 and the lowest
quality index was (0.29±0.02) was recorded for water soaking
for 24 hrs (T2) (Table-4).
Various pre-sowing treatments are under taken at nursery
level to enhance seed germination. Many chemical substances
are found to promote seed germination. Some compounds
interact with the physiological mechanisms of some dormancy
types. Application may break or relieve dormancy, e.g. partly
substitute for temperature or light pre-treatment, or for leaching
of germination10. Perusals of literature indicate that the total
germination percentage, germination speed and seedling vigour
may be promoted by application of germination stimulants.
The effect of different germination stimulants have been carried
out on seeds of Ziziphus mauritiana, Casuarina equisetifolia,
Acacia nilotica, Pongamia pinnata, Santalum album, Tectona
grandis, Vateria indica, Aegle marmelos, Calophyllum

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 CHEMICAL SEED PRE-TREATMENTS FOR BETTER GERMINATION (372)

inophyllum, Thriphala and Dalbergia latifolia11-21. In the present and Management. USA.
study, the germination parameters of the seeds were 2. Mejía, E., Buitrón, X., Peña-Claros, M. and Grogan, J. (2008). In:
significantly influenced by chemicals and the highest Big-leaf mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla) in Bolivia, Peru and

germination percentage, Mean Daily Germination and Peak
Value of Germination were observed for 100 ppm benzyl
adenine (BA) for 12 hrs (T3). While, earlier workers used a
higher concentration (200 ppm) in Ziziphus mauritiana. Benzyl
adenine (BA) is a synthetic plant hormone of the cytokinin
group; effect the shoot development, both germination22. BA
has been reported to overcome seed dormancy23-24. The pre-
treatment also influenced the initial seedling performance,
however the seedlings obtained from seeds treated with one
per cent potassium nitrate (KNO3) for 12 hrs (T5) recorded
higher growth and biomass production which was supported
by the quality indices of those seedlings. Potassium nitrate
(KNO3) is one of the frequently used germination stimulants.
Brazil. Case study 4: Swietenia macrophylla. En. International
Expert Workshop on CITES Non-Detriment Findings, Mexico.
3. Nour, A.H., Nour, A.B.H, Sandanasamy, J.A.P. and Yusoff, M.M.
(2012). In: Proceedings of the 13th Seminar on Medicinal and
Aromatic Plants, 25-26 September 2012, Kuala lumbur, Malaysia.
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Though its physiological role is not clear, however, it is used 10.
both in connection with testing and in operational plant
11.
propagation24-25. Although, application of KNO3 could improve
12.
the seedling growth in the nursery, due to lower germination
seeds it cannot be advocated for large scale planting stock
13.
production in the nursery. From the study, it can be conducted
that effect of different chemicals on seeds significantly 14.
influenced the seed germination of Swietenia macrophylla.
The highest germination percentage, Mean Daily Germination 15.
and Peak Value of Germination were observed for 100 ppm 16.
benzyl adenine (BA) for 12 hrs (T3). The pre-treatment also 17.
influenced the initial seedling performance one per cent
potassium nitrate (KNO3) for 12 hrs (T5) seedlings recording 18.
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Subtropical Forest seed. DANIDA Forest Seed Centre, Denmark.
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Maideen, S.K., Selvaraj, J.A. and Vinaya Ray, R.S. (1990). The
International Tree Crops Journal, 6: 173.
Palani, M., Dasrhagir, M.G. and Kumaran, K. (1995). International
Tree Crops Journal, 8: 189.
Manonmani, V., Vanangamudi, K., Rai, R.S.V. and Vinaya, R.R.S.
(1996). J. Trop. For. Sci. 9: 1.
Manonmani, V. and Vanangamudi, K. (2002). J. Trop. For. Sci., 14(1): 150.
Jijeesh, C.M. and Sudhakara, K. (2007). Seed Res., 35(1): 25.
Gunaga, R.P., Hareesh, T.S. and Vasudeva, R. (2007). J.
NTFPs, 14: 197.
Venudevan, B., Srimathi, P., Natarajan, N., Vijayakumar, R.M.

higher growth and biomass production which was supported
19.
by the quality indices of those seedlings. However, further
investigation receded to confirm the higher germination and
20.
initial growth of the seeds and to know whether this enhanced
performance is continued under field conditions.
21.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
(2013). Asian J. Crop Sci. 5(4): 442.
Ajeesh, R., Jijeesh, C.M., Vidyasagran, K. and Vikas Kumar.
(2014). The Bioscan, 9(3): 1087.
Vikas Kumar, Ajeesh, R., Vidyasagaran, K. and Chourasia, S.
(2014). Environment and Ecology 33(4): 1454.
Vikas Kumar, Kumar, S., Jha, S. K. and Jijeesh, C. M. (2014).
Soil Environment, 33(2): 169.

We are thankful to Dr. Vidyasagaran, K. (Dean, College of 22. Bewley, J.D. and Black, M. (1994). In: Seeds, Physiology of
Development and Germination, New York.
forestry, Vellanikkara) for provided the nursery bed and also
23. Smith, O.E., Yen, W. and Lyons, J.M. (1968). Soc. Hort. Sci., 93:444.
thanks to Dr. T.K. Kunhamu (Assoc. & Head, Dept. of
24. Hartmann, H.T., Kester, D.E., Davies, F.T.Jr. and Geneve, R.L.
Silviculture & Agroforestry, COF, Vellanikkara) for provided
(1997). In: Plant propagation, principles and practices, INC.
the lab facility and financial support throughout the research work.
25. ISTA. (1996). In: International rules for seed testing. Seed Sci.
and Technol, Vol. 24, Supplement. International Seed Testing
REFERENCES
Association, Zurich.
1. Lamb, F.B. (1966). In: Mahogany of Tropical America: Its Ecology

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