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Asian Journal of Agricultural Research

Year: 2016 | Volume: 10 | Issue: 2 | Page No.: 107-113
Research Article

Effects of Nut Cracking and Gibberellic Acid on Emergence and Early Growth of Shea Seedlings

S. Konlan
Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana, P.O. Box 8, New Tafo-Akim, Ghana
M.T. Barnor
Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana, P.O. Box 8, New Tafo-Akim, Ghana
M.O. Opoku-Agyeman
Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana, P.O. Box 8, New Tafo-Akim, Ghana
F. Daplah
Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana, P.O. Box 8, New Tafo-Akim, Ghana
Poor germination, delayed plumule emergence and slow growth associated with the shea tree are major obstacles hindering complete domestication and commercial cultivation of the tree. Studies to develop techniques that improve germination, reduce time to emergence and promote faster seedling growth remain an important research activity on the tree crop (CRIG). As part of these studies, a nursery experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of nut cracking and gibberellic acid concentration (GA3) on plumule emergence and growth of shea seedlings. The lay out was a split plot arranged in randomized complete block design with physical nut handling (cracked and uncracked) and GA3 concentration (1000, 2000, 3000, 4000 and 5000 ppm) as main and subplot factors, respectively. Data on final emergence was taken 4 Months After Sowing (MAS) while those of seedling height, stem diameter and leaf number per plant were taken at 8, 16 and 24 MAS. Data on effects of treatments on dry matter accumulation by seedlings were taken at 24 MAS. The results showed a positive relationship between seedling height and pre-sowing emersion in GA3 up to 16 MAS, irrespective of nut handling. In the long term (24 MAS) seedlings from cracked and uncracked nuts soaked in the 4,000 and 3,000 ppm GA3 solutions, respectively, led to significant stem diameter gain. The implications of these observations on shea seedlings development are discussed.
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