Jay B. Pandya, Priyankaba P. Gohil, Sanjana N. Chavda, Radhika P. Kasodariya, Hima R. Vadera, Dhruvisha S. Mehta and Shailesh K. Mehta
Abstract
The well-known tree, Adansonia digitata L, native to African savannas, belonging to family Malvaceae and commonly called âKALPVRIKSHAâ in Indian Mythology, is valued as a key source of water, food and shelter for many animals. The giant Baobab holds sacred importance in Hindu culture; however, its growth and survival are challenged by urbanization, climatic changes and poor seed germination, while in Gujarat its sparse distribution and declining numbers have placed it among endangered and vulnerable species. Improving yield and expanding cultivation are necessary; however, the hard seed coat limits its propagation by preventing the entry of water, nutrients, and oxygen, causing both exogenous and endogenous dormancy. The seed dormancies can be broken by treating seeds with different pre-treatments, including physical, chemical and biological pre-treatments. This study was carried out to investigate the effects of some water, chemical and biological pre-treatments, i.e. soaking seeds in various water samples and pre-soaking for different hours under water pre-treatments, further soaking seeds in humic acid and H2O2 solutions under chemical treatments and soaking seeds in its own fruit pulp under different concentrations, on the germination characters and seedling performance of Adansonia digitata L. Results revealed that all the pretreatments were found to have a significant effect on the germination parameters and growth performance, except lake water pre-treatment. The best pre-treatments were soaking seeds in its own fruit pulp and in boiling water, significantly improving germination while aiding biodiversity conservation, restoring declining populations and promoting sustainable use of Baobab.