Effect of pre-sowing and incubation treatment on germination of Garcinia kola (Heckel) seeds. Abstract-Introduction. Garcinia kola, a multipurpose fruit tree, produces fruit, seeds, roots and stem which are extensively used in Nigeria, Ghana and other West African countries for dental care. Cultivation of this fruit tree is limited because of poor seed germination. Our study therefore aimed at improving seed germination properties which will promote cultivation of G. kola by rural farmers. Materials and methods. Seeds taken from a single tree of G. kola were treated with cold water (22°C), hot water (60 °C) and gibberelic acid (0.5 g × L-1) for various lengths of time. They were then put to incubate in sterilized river sand or a thick transparent polyethylene bag to evaluate the capacities of seed to be germinated under such conditions. In addition, the seed moisture content at harvest was also reduced to various levels before incubation in polyethylene bags to determine the critical moisture rate necessary for seeds to germinate. Results. The seeds incubated in the river sand without any treatment before sowing had an average time of germination of 71.2 d and a total percentage of germination of 28% whereas those incubated in polyethylene bags had an average time of germination of 25.8 d and a total percentage of germination of 62%. The cold water treatment, irrespective of the incubation method, did not significantly affect either the mean germination time or the total germination percentage. However, it significantly reduced the spreading out of the seed germination to 5.4 d. The seed pretreatment with gibberelic acid prolonged at the same time the average time of germination and the spreading out of the germination. The seed water content at harvest (50.4%) allowed the best rate of seed germination and the shortest spreading out of the germination period. Conclusion. The pretreatment of freshly harvested seeds with cold water followed by an incubation in a thick transparent polyethylene bag proved most effective in enhancing the germination of G. kola seeds. This procedure has to be recommended to promote the cultivation of this species. Nigeria / Garcinia kola / plant propagation / seed / germination / germinability / seed treatment Effet des traitements avant semis et des techniques d'incubation sur la germination de graines de Garcinia kola (Heckel).

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract