%0 Journal Article
%T Seed Scarification and Plant Extracts Enhanced Germination, Seed Health and Seedlings Vigour of <i>Tetrapleura</i><i> tetraptera</i>
%A Niky Joliesse Nouteka Koagne
%A Steve Ngalle Tchatho
%A Sylver Landry Dida Lontsi
%A Sylvie Essomo Etanke
%A Hans Abireche Utenego
%A Hubert Joseph Yamdeu Galani
%A Joseph Djeugap Fovo
%J Agricultural Sciences
%P 472-488
%@ 2156-8561
%D 2025
%I Scientific Research Publishing
%R 10.4236/as.2025.165031
%X Seed dormancy and seed-borne fungi are main biological constraints to the domestication of edible non-timber forest products such as <i>Tetrapleura</i> <i>tetr</i><i>aptera </i>fruits. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of thermal and mechanical scarification on seed dormancy and the efficacy of three plant aqueous extracts (<i>Cymbopogon </i><i>citratus</i>, <i>Callistemom</i> <i>viminalis</i>,<i> Tephrosia </i><i>vogelii</i>) against seed-borne diseases and seedlings vigour of <i>T. tetraptera</i>. Treatments consisted of soaking the seeds in water at 80&#730;C for 2 and 4 hours, scarification of seeds with abrasive paper at 1 mm and 2 mm depths. The antifungal activity of plant extracts was evaluated both <i>in vitro </i>(by the poising method on agar medium) and<i> in vivo</i> at 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5 mg/mL. Momtaz (Imidacloprid 250 g/kg + Thiram 200 g/kg) was used as a positive control. Dormancy was lifted by scarification at 2 mm depth; this treatment had the highest germination percentage (92.33%) and the lowest infection rate (20.67%). The more frequent seed-borne fungi isolated belong to <i>Aspergillus</i> sp. (18.43% - 21.78%). The pathogenicity test was positive with <i>Alternaria</i> <i>alternata</i>, <i>A. fumigatus </i>and <i>Cercospora</i> sp. <i>T. </i><i>v</i><i>ogelii</i> extract totally inhibited the growth of the pathogenic fungi at all the concentrations tested. Seed infection obtained with <i>T. </i><i>vogelii</i> (4.12%) extracts at 7.5 mg/mL was significantly similar to Momtaz (3.33%). The extract of <i>C. </i><i>viminalis</i> had the highest vigour index (674.42) at 7.5 mg/mL. Mechanical scarification using abrasive paper and seed treatment with plant extracts of <i>T. </i><i>vogelii</i> could be used in the domestication process of the species.
%K Edible Non-Timber Forest Products
%K Plant Extracts
%K Seed-Borne Fungi
%K Seed Dormancy
%K <i>Tetrapleura</i><i> tetraptera</i>
%U http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=143005