The effects of Growth Media on Germination and Early Seedling Development of Annona Muricata Linn.

Abstract

Annona muricata Linn is one of the highly valued medicinal plants. Presentstudy was subjected to six media viz: Top soil + sawdust, river sand + topsoil, river sand + sawdust, sawdust only, top soil only and river sand only(control). Percentage germination (%), plant height (cm), number of leavesper plant, stem girth (cm) and leaf area (cm2 ) were determined for threemonths. The results revealed that the highest mean germination of 80% wasrecorded in seeds sown in river sand + sawdust medium. While seeds sownin river sand + top soil and those sown on top soil only gave the samepercentage of 40% which were the least percentage germination recorded.The results of this study also showed that seedlings planted on top soil onlyhas the highest mean height of 19.12cm, leaf production of 11.33, stem girthof 1.50cm and leaf area of 31.20cm2 . This was followed by the seedlingsplanted on river sand + top soil medium with mean height, number ofleaves, stem girth and leaf area of 17.78cm, 10.83, 1.32cm and 17.81cm 2respectively. While the least seedling development was recorded inseedlings planted on river sand only which gave mean plant height, leavesproduction, stem girth and leaf area of 6.42cm, 3.67, 0.52cm and 9.8cm 2respectively at three months after planting. It is therefore opined that riversand +sawdust was the most effective growth medium for enhancing bestseed germination while top soil only was the most effective growth mediumfor enhancing best seedling development in Annona muricata Linn.