EFFECT OF PRE SOWING TREATMENT ON GERMINATION AND SEEDLING PERFORMANCE OF KAPOK (Ceiba pentandra L.)

The present investigation entitled “Effect of pre sowing treatment on germination and seedling performance of Kapok (Ceiba pentandra L.)” was conducted in the Main Garden of Department of Horticulture, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola during the period 2016-2017. In view of the potentials of Ceiba pentandra, its germination and growth rate without seed pretreatment is very slow. Sometimes seeds of Ceiba pentandra may fail to germinate under favorable environmental conditions and are therefore said to exhibit some degree of dormancy. Due to excessive temperature around Guinea Savannah Zone, Ceiba pentandra seeds get damaged before the pods naturally dehiscent. This study therefore, is to investigate seed germination trial of Ceiba pentandra and its early growth by using suitable seed pre-treatment methods to raise the species in the nursery. There was an improvement in germination when seeds of Ceiba pentandra were pre-treated by seed soaking in H2SO4 at 98% concentration for 5 min.