Optimizing Hydropriming Duration for Enhanced Germination, Emergence and Seedling Growth of Ocimum gratissimum: A Path to Sustainable Production in Nigeria

Background and Objective: Cultivation of scent leaf (Ocimum gratissimum) is a valuable crop with culinary, medicinal and ornamental significance in Nigeria, is constrained by low germination and seedling vigor due to the inhibitory effect of unesterified galacturonic acid in the mucilaginous layer in the seed coat. Sustainable production of this important horticultural crop requires improving seed germination, emergence and seedling growth observed in this study. Materials and Methods: Thus, an experiment was conducted in the Department of Horticultural Technology, Enugu State Polytechnic Iwollo, Enugu State, Nigeria, to determine the optimal hydro-priming duration for improved seed germination, emergence and seedling growth of Ocimum gratissimum. The treatments included 0, 6, 12, 18 and 24 hrs of hydro-priming. A completely Randomized Design with three replications was used for the experiment. Data on days to 50% germination, mean germination time, germination percentage, mean emergence time, emergence percentage, seedling height and number of leaves per seedling were collected and subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) at a 5% significant level using GenStat software. Treatment means were separated using Fisher’s least significant difference at 0.05 probability level. Results: The results showed that hydro-priming significantly (p<0.05) increased germination and emergence percentages, seedling height and number of leaves per seedling, with 18 hrs being the optimal duration. Hydro-priming also significantly decreased days to 50% germination, mean germination time and mean emergence time with 18 h also being the optimal duration. Conclusion: It could be concluded that hydropriming is an important seed treatment for improved germination, emergence and seedling growth of Ocimum gratissimum. Hydropriming for 18 hrs is therefore recommended for enhanced Ocimum gratissimum cultivation and sustainable production of the crop in Nigeria.