Effect of Conditions and Duration of Storage on Breaking Dormancy and Enhancing Germination and Emergence in Coconut

This study aims to evaluate the effect of storage condition and duration before sowing on coconut emergence. Seednuts of the Tall and Dwarf types were laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates. The seednuts were subjected to three storage conditions of direct sunlight (DS), under tree shade (UTS) and seed store (SS) for 21 and 28 days respectively. Data taken were analyzed using ANOVA. There was high variability among the coconut types evaluated for days to attain 50% emergence (ER), days to maximum emergence (DME), percentage germination (PG) and the germination interval (EI) at p < 0.1% level of probability. Conditions of storage had high significant effect on the number of days to emergence (E) (p < 0.1%). The number of weeks before sowing was significant at p < 0.1%. It took the tall 144.44 days after sowing to attain maximum emergence while the dwarf achieved same feat at 110.61 days after sowing. The dwarf had rapid completion of germination of 60.11 days compared with 87.28 days in the tall. Seednuts subjected to DS emerged at 47.92 days and had GI of 64.25 days after sowing while those subjected to UTS and SS emerged at 52.67 and 61.17 days and had GI of 71.92 and 84.92 days respectively. Seed nuts stored for 28 days before sowing emerged earlier at 49.33 days while those sown after 21 days emerged at 58.50 days. This study establish that sunlight can influence days to emergence in coconut. Seednuts should be preferably kept in direct sunlight for about 28 days at 3 – 4 sunshine hours to enhance rapid emergence rate.