PRE-GERMINATION TREATMENTS AND STORAGE MEDIA ON SEED EMERGENCE AND GROWTH OF SOURSOP (<i>Annona muricata Lin</i>) WITHIN SIXTY DAYS AFTER EMERGENCE

Experiment was conducted to investigate the response of different pre – germination treatments and storage media on seed emergence and growth of soursop (Annona muricata Lin) within sixty days after emergence. The experiment was conducted in a 5 x 5 factorial layouts using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD), replicated three times. These treatments were scarification of seeds by filling (SF), scarification of seeds by filling followed by soaking of seeds for three days in cold water (SS), soaking of seeds for three days in cold water (CW), soaking of seeds in a 50 OC hot water for 10 minutes followed by soaking of seeds for three days in cold water (HC) and without treatment (Control). The storage media used were plastic container, glass bottle, paper envelope, earthen pot and aluminum foil. The perimeters measured were percentage emergence, seedling height, number of leaves and leaf area. The data collected was subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and significant treatment means were separated using Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT) at 5% probability level. The result showed that seeds that were scarified by filling and soaked in water for three days exercised superiority over others in all the parameters measured. This was followed by seeds soaked in a 50 OC hot water for 10 minutes and later soaked seeds for three days in cold water. The result of response of different storage media on seed emergence and growth of soursop showed that plants that were stored in earthen pot had higher percentage of seed emergence, followed by paper envelope, while the least was glass bottle in all the parameters measured. It is therefore, suggested that farmers who wish to cultivate soursop in large quantity should apply these two seed treatments to break the seed dormancy and for quick and effective germination.