Seed viability and fungi infected seeds of Leucaena sp. at several treatments of essential oils, temperatures and storage periods

• Published in: IOP conference series. Earth and environmental science 2018-12, Vol.209 (1), p.12026
• Main Authors: Yuniarti, N, Suharti, T, Syamsuwida, D
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1755-1307; 1755-1315; 1755-1315
• DOI: 10.1088/1755-1315/209/1/012026

Leucaena sp. is one of fast growing species of biomass energy-producing timber. The cultivation of this species needs a good quality of seeds and free from pests and diseases. The objective of this study was to investigate the response of essential oils, temperature and storage periods on the seed germination and the percentage of fungi infected seeds of Leucaena sp. A complete randomized design of factorial pattern was used, i.e. essential oils (citronella grass and clove oils), storage temperatures (27°C-30°C; 15 °C-20 °C and 0 °C-5 °C) and storage periods (0, 2 and 4 months). The measurement of infected seeds was carried out by using germination test of top of paper and incubation test. The results showed that storage periods and essential oils significantly influenced the germination capacity and the number of infected seeds at both of germination of top of paper and incubation test. Interaction of storage periods and essential oils treatments affected the germination capacity and infected seeds percentage only when the seeds were germinated on top of paper method. Before and after storing the seeds, essential oils treatments were not effective in reducing fungi infection when they were germinated on top of paper, but it was powerful at the time of the incubation test. Essential oils were able to increase the germination capacity before seeds were being stored. However, it was reduced when the seeds were stored for two months.