Abstract

Fresh as well as stored seeds of guanacaste (Enterolobium cyclocarpum:) were subjected to various pre-sowing treatments, and their germination was studied under laboratory conditions. Seeds stored for two years recorded higher germination(40 percent to 53 percent) than fresh seeds (13 to 31 percent) with hot and boiling water pre-treatments. Hot and boiling water pre-treatments enhanced germination (13 percent to 53 percent) of both fresh and stored seeds whereas untreated and cold water treated seeds registered either nil or negligible (3 to 9) germination. When the leachate obtained after hot water treatment was used for soaking paddy (Oryza sativa) seeds, germination of paddy was delayedhowever, the cumulative final germination was unaffected. The leachate-treated paddy seedlings grew taller than the tapwater-treated seedlings