Effect of three pretreatments on germination and nursery growth of Erythrophleum ivorense a. Chev, Aa little-known timber species in Cote d'Ivoire

Erythrophleum ivorense (A. chev), commonly known as Tali, is a tropical timber species found in savannah and forest zones. It is used for a wide range of purposes. The aim of this study is to contribute to the improvement of seed germination and seedling growth of Erythrophleum ivorense in nurseries by developing effective pre-treatment methods that will lead to a rapid lifting of seed dormancy. To achieve this, four pre-treatments were applied to Erythrophleum ivorense seeds. These were the control with no pretreatment (T0), soaking the seeds in ordinary water for 48 h (T1) and soaking the seeds in 95% dilute sulfuric acid for 20 min (T2). Germination and growth data were taken and statistically tested. The best germination rate was recorded when the seeds were soaked in 95% sulfuric acid for 20 min, with a value of 86%, while the lowest rate was obtained when the seeds were soaked in ordinary water for 48 h (10%). The analyses also showed that the different pre-treatments had a significant effect on growth parameters. Growth in height, diameter and number of leaves was greater in seedlings whose seeds had been treated with 95% dilute sulfuric acid for 20 min, with respective values of (19.19±4.13b; 14.55±0.43b; 6.51±1.75b).

Pre-treatment with 95% dilute sulfuric acid for 20 min could be proposed for nursery propagation of Erythrophleum ivorense for long-term conservation. However, it should be used with precaution.