International Journal of Plant & Soil Science

The effects of different seed treatments on the germination of Canna indica L. were investigated. The seeds were subjected to chemical (sodium nitrate, sulphuric acid and hydrochloric acid), physical (hot water) and mechanical (puncturing the seed coat) scarification and allowed to germinate given a period of 16 days. The seeds were treated as follows: immersion in 50%, 70% and 100% sulphuric acid (H₂SO₄) and hydrochloric acid (HCl) for 20, 40, 60, 80, 100 and 120 minutes respectively, 24 hours soaking in 10 mM, 50 mM, 100 mM, 1000 mM Sodium nitrate (NaNO₃) and soaking in hot distilled water (70°C and 100°C) for 5 and 10 minutes respectively. Mechanical scarification, chemical scarification using 70% HCl and concentrated sulphuric acid and hot water treatment (70°C) had considerable effect in promoting germination with maximum germination percentage of 50%, 35%, 88%, and 36% respectively. Canna indica seeds treated with NaNO₃ had the least germination (28%). However, treatment with concentrated sulphuric acid was most efficient in promoting germination (88%). Statistical analysis carried out indicated that there was significant difference at P=0.05 in the germination of seeds treated with hot water, mechanical scarification, sulphuric acid and hydrochloric acid at 70% and 100% but there was no significant difference in the germination of seeds treated with 50% of both hydrochloric acid and sulphuric acid respectively.