EFFECT OF DIFFERENT METHODS OF BREAKING SEED DORMANCY ON MIMOSA PUDICA AND ALBIZIA LEBBECK SEEDS AT BORNO STATE UNIVERSITY

Seed dormancy is a serious adaptive feature that prevents seeds from germinating under
unfavorable conditions. However, dormancy can limit uniform and timely germination in
agricultural and horticultural production. This study evaluated different methods of breaking
seed dormancy on selected crop seeds at Borno State University, Maiduguri, Nigeria. The
experiment tested physical, chemical, and hormonal treatments including mechanical
scarification, soaking in concentrated sulfuric acid, soaking in gibberellic acid (GA3), and
control (no treatment). Seeds of Mimosa pudica and Albizia lebbeck were used as model species
with hard seed coats exhibiting physical dormancy. Germination percentage, mean germination
time, and seedling vigor index were measured. Results showed that sulfuric acid treatment for
10 minutes and GA3 soaking at 200 ppm significantly enhanced germination rate and seedling
vigor compared to control and mechanical scarification. The study concludes that acid
scarification and hormonal treatment are effective dormancy-breaking methods suitable for
seeds with physical dormancy in the Sahel region. These findings provide practical procedures
to improve seedling establishment for agroforestry and crop production programs at Borno State
University and surrounding areas.