Effect of Seed Pre-Treatment and Sowing Orientation on Germination of Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Del. Seeds

Seeds of Balanites aegyptiaca stored for one year were germinated using cold and boiling water pre-treatments and different sowing orientations. Whole fruits were soaked in cold water for (18, 24 and 48 hours, respectively), while extracted sun dried seeds were immersed in boiling water for 7 minutes. Seeds of each treatment were sown in three orientations (seeds laid vertically with stalk end downwards, seeds laid horizontally and seeds laid vertically with stalk end upwards). The results showed a very high significant difference between treatments and sowing orientations. Soaking for 18 and 24 hours and untreated seeds resulted in higher germination. Also, sowing seeds horizontally or vertically with stalk end downwards had higher germination. The study recommend germinating Balanites seeds, after extraction of seed by soaking of fruits for 18 hours and sowing without germination pre-treatment in horizontal orientation.