DORMANCY AND GERMINATION OF SEEDS OF TERMINALIA CATTAPA (INDIAN ALMOND) FROM GWAGWALADA AREA COUNCIL, FCT, ABUJA.

Investigations were made on the dormancy and germination of seeds vt Vcrminalia cattappa, a widely cultivated tree species in the tropics and commonly grow in the savannah ofNign ia. These Investigations were carried out in the laboratory and in the nursery garden. Methods of terminating seed dormancy and standard nursery practices were adopted. Two seed types have been found to occur in the pods based on the colour of the test and these were conveniently designated as dark brown (DBS) and light brown seeds (LBS). Using some of the well known methods of terminating dormancy i.e. dry and wet heat treatments, mechanical scarification and chemical scarification. Both seeds types were found to have dormancy problems. Dormancy in Terminalia cattappa was terminated by dry and wet heat treatment at 10(fCfor two minutes. Mechanical scarification by abrasion with gravel or coarse river sand and chemical scarification by soaking in 0.4% KMnOr The results showed that the dormancy in both seed types (DBS and LBS) were seed-coat imposed. The percentage germination records before and after treatment of dormancy was 0.35% and 60% - 70% germination capacity after chemical scarification and5% after mechanical scarification.