Enhancing germination of Sapindus mukorossi (Gaertn.) through dormancy-breaking treatments

Sapindus mukorossi (Gaertn.), commonly known as soapnut, is a valuable species within the Sapindaceae family, known for its saponin-rich fruits with extensive applications in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and natural detergents. However, the hard seed coat of S. mukorossi imposes significant dormancy,...

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Main Authors: Kheloufi Abdenour, Mansouri Lahouaria Mounia, Goudja Thorayya, Boukhecha Mohammed
Format: Article
Language:deu
Published: Sciendo 2025-04-01
Series:Die Bodenkultur
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.2478/boku-2024-0010
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author Kheloufi Abdenour
Mansouri Lahouaria Mounia
Goudja Thorayya
Boukhecha Mohammed
author_facet Kheloufi Abdenour
Mansouri Lahouaria Mounia
Goudja Thorayya
Boukhecha Mohammed
author_sort Kheloufi Abdenour
collection DOAJ
description Sapindus mukorossi (Gaertn.), commonly known as soapnut, is a valuable species within the Sapindaceae family, known for its saponin-rich fruits with extensive applications in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and natural detergents. However, the hard seed coat of S. mukorossi imposes significant dormancy, posing a challenge for propagation. This study evaluates the effectiveness of various pretreatment methods in breaking seed coat dormancy and enhancing germination. The pretreatments included a control (untreated seeds), 15-min hot water soak, 15 min heat at 200 °C, sulfuric acid soak for 1, 2, and 3 h, and mechanical scarification using sandpaper. Over a 30-day period, germination performance was assessed through final germination percentage (FGP), mean germination time (MGT), coefficient of velocity of germination (CVG), time to 50% germination (T50), and mean daily germination (MDG). Results showed that the 2-h sulfuric acid treatment achieved the highest FGP at 96.67%. The control group exhibited a low FGP of 7.50%, indicating high seed dormancy in untreated seeds. Heat treatment and mechanical scarification also improved FGP to 15.83% and 11.67%, respectively. No germination occurred after a hot water soak. Statistical analysis showed significant differences among the treatments for all germination traits (FGP, MGT, CVG, T50, and MDG) with p-values <0.001. This study provides valuable insights into this economically important species’ large-scale propagation and cultivation.
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spelling doaj-art-86cdae8bc48e4fbc9bcba6cc57563f282025-08-20T03:18:37ZdeuSciendoDie Bodenkultur2719-54302025-04-0175210511310.2478/boku-2024-0010Enhancing germination of Sapindus mukorossi (Gaertn.) through dormancy-breaking treatmentsKheloufi Abdenour0Mansouri Lahouaria Mounia1Goudja Thorayya2Boukhecha Mohammed3University of Batna 2, Department of Ecology and Environment, 53 Route de Constantine, Fésdis, Batna05078, AlgeriaUniversity of Batna 2, Department of Ecology and Environment, 53 Route de Constantine, Fésdis, Batna05078, AlgeriaUniversity of Batna 2, Department of Ecology and Environment, 53 Route de Constantine, Fésdis, Batna05078, AlgeriaUniversity of Science and Technology of Oran, Department of Living and Environment, El MNaouar BP 1505, Oran31000, AlgeriaSapindus mukorossi (Gaertn.), commonly known as soapnut, is a valuable species within the Sapindaceae family, known for its saponin-rich fruits with extensive applications in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and natural detergents. However, the hard seed coat of S. mukorossi imposes significant dormancy, posing a challenge for propagation. This study evaluates the effectiveness of various pretreatment methods in breaking seed coat dormancy and enhancing germination. The pretreatments included a control (untreated seeds), 15-min hot water soak, 15 min heat at 200 °C, sulfuric acid soak for 1, 2, and 3 h, and mechanical scarification using sandpaper. Over a 30-day period, germination performance was assessed through final germination percentage (FGP), mean germination time (MGT), coefficient of velocity of germination (CVG), time to 50% germination (T50), and mean daily germination (MDG). Results showed that the 2-h sulfuric acid treatment achieved the highest FGP at 96.67%. The control group exhibited a low FGP of 7.50%, indicating high seed dormancy in untreated seeds. Heat treatment and mechanical scarification also improved FGP to 15.83% and 11.67%, respectively. No germination occurred after a hot water soak. Statistical analysis showed significant differences among the treatments for all germination traits (FGP, MGT, CVG, T50, and MDG) with p-values <0.001. This study provides valuable insights into this economically important species’ large-scale propagation and cultivation.https://doi.org/10.2478/boku-2024-0010agroforestryreforestationdormancygerminationsulfuric acidscarificationsapindus mukorossiagroforstwirtschaftwiederaufforstungdormanzkeimungschwefelsäureskarifikationsapindus mukorossi
spellingShingle Kheloufi Abdenour
Mansouri Lahouaria Mounia
Goudja Thorayya
Boukhecha Mohammed
Enhancing germination of Sapindus mukorossi (Gaertn.) through dormancy-breaking treatments
Die Bodenkultur
agroforestry
reforestation
dormancy
germination
sulfuric acid
scarification
sapindus mukorossi
agroforstwirtschaft
wiederaufforstung
dormanz
keimung
schwefelsäure
skarifikation
sapindus mukorossi
title Enhancing germination of Sapindus mukorossi (Gaertn.) through dormancy-breaking treatments
title_full Enhancing germination of Sapindus mukorossi (Gaertn.) through dormancy-breaking treatments
title_fullStr Enhancing germination of Sapindus mukorossi (Gaertn.) through dormancy-breaking treatments
title_full_unstemmed Enhancing germination of Sapindus mukorossi (Gaertn.) through dormancy-breaking treatments
title_short Enhancing germination of Sapindus mukorossi (Gaertn.) through dormancy-breaking treatments
title_sort enhancing germination of sapindus mukorossi gaertn through dormancy breaking treatments
topic agroforestry
reforestation
dormancy
germination
sulfuric acid
scarification
sapindus mukorossi
agroforstwirtschaft
wiederaufforstung
dormanz
keimung
schwefelsäure
skarifikation
sapindus mukorossi
url https://doi.org/10.2478/boku-2024-0010
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AT goudjathorayya enhancinggerminationofsapindusmukorossigaertnthroughdormancybreakingtreatments
AT boukhechamohammed enhancinggerminationofsapindusmukorossigaertnthroughdormancybreakingtreatments