Seed-coat Dormancy in Robinia pseudo-acacia

Seeds of Robinia pseudo-acacia were given different pretreatments to study their dormancy and germination pattern. Scarification of seeds with concentrated sulphuric acid and boiling water led to a good germination percentage and rate, with one minute pretreatment being optimum in both cases yielding 78 and 62 per cent germination respectively. Pretreatment for a longer duration resulted in damage to seeds thereby reducing the germination percentage. Rupturing the-seed coat at various sites yielded better results and removing a part of seed-coat at the radicular end yielded 100 per cent germination. Cold stratification of seeds at 5°C for varying length of time has no effect on dormancy of the seeds thereby suggesting that dormancy in Robinia pseudo-acacia seeds resides in the seed-coat which mainly interferes with water uptake of the seeds besides acting as a mechanical restraint to radical emergence.