EFFECT OF SEED TREATMENT AND SEED SOWING MEDIUM ON GERMINATION RATE AND SEEDLINGS QUALITY OF CYMBOPOGON MARTINII ROXB IN THANH TRI – HA NOI

Abstract

Cymbopogon martinii Roxb is an aromatic grass which is widely cultivated for pharmaceutical industry purposes as an important essential oil. This study focused on the effects of pre-sowing seed treatments (experiment 1) and substrates (experiment 2) on seed germination rate and the quality of the seedlings. The experiment design was randomised complete block with three replications. In experiment 1, Palmarosa seeds were treated by three pre-sowing methods: untreated (control), seeds were soaked in cool water for 60 minutes, and seeds were soaked in warm water at 53 ℃ for 60 minutes (mixture of boiling and cold water with the ratio of 2:3). In experiment 2, palmarosa seeds were sown in 3 different substrates which were 100% sand (control), 100% soil, and a mixture of soil and microbial organic fertilizer at a ratio of 9:1. The results showed that soaking seeds in warm water at about 53 ℃ gave the highest germination rate at 69.50%. Across three substrates, mixture of soil microbial organic fertilizer was the most suitable for germination with the germination percentage of 67.90%.