Effect of temperature and seed moisture content on germination of Spider plant (Cleome gynandra) seeds

Abstract

The aim of this study was to find the optimum temperature and seed moisture content for germination of Spider plant seeds. The study attempts to give the relationship between temperature and seed moisture content on seed germination capacity. The optimum temperature at which the seeds germinate is given. Also, the effect of seed moisture content on seed germination in relation to soaking the seeds and incubation at 30 °C with MgCl.32% RH, NaBr.55%RH, NaCl.75%RH, KCl.85% RH and water at 100% RH. For temperature the seeds were germinated at 2-10 °C, 20-25 °C, 25-30 °C, 30-35 °C and 35- 40 °C. The % germination obtained include 2%, 86%, 82, 56% and 42% respectively. 20-25 °C was found to be optimum temperature for germination. Above or below this germination sharply decreased. Soaking the seeds in water produced lowest germination of 6% while incubating with water highest % of 82%. Incubation with chemicals reduced seed germination.