Environmentally induced variation in germination percentage and energy of naked caryopses of Loxodera ledermannii (Pilger) W.D. Clayton ex Launert in subhumid Benin (West Africa)

Abstract

This study investigated the conditions for maximizing germination of Loxodera ledermannii, an earlier and nutritional tropical fodder grass species. We examined the correlation of percentage germination with seed container, substrate, sowing depth, methods and date of sowing. Naked caryopses of L. ledermannii were subjected to various growth conditions. Results showed that percentage germination depended on growth conditions (P = 0.001) and energy of germination (P = 0.0001). Effects of the seed container, substrate, sowing depth, methods and sowing period were significant (P < 0.05). Refining of the substrate improved the percentage germination. Seed container coverage and sowing depth substrates increased the energy of germination (P = 0.000); their magnitudes were dependent on substrate types, being average for sterilized soil (56%) and higher with blotting paper (84.9%) and refined soil (121%). Highest germination energy was recorded for covered and deeper seed containers (< 5 days). Tamping increases notably the caryopses germination and the plant density through the growth period. Further studies are needed to well characterize constitutive variation of these traits.