The study was aimed to determine the effect of water potential on seed germination and early seedling growth of Momocardia charantia, Trichosanthes cucumerina and Abelmoschus esculentus seeds. Each set of triplicate testtubes containing ten seeds of each Momocardia charantia, Trichosanthes cucumerina and Abelmoschus esculentus, were filled with sterile water at different water potential and allowed to germinate in room temperature for seven days. Parameters measured were the percentage of germination, germination index, mean time to germination and the length of germ tube. The highest germination characteristics were observed at low and moderate water potential in all three types of plant seeds. The optimum germination responses were expressed by Momocardia charantia and Trichosanthes cucumerina at 23.5 Kgm-1s-2 and Abelmoschus esculentus at 47.0 Kgm-1s-2. Moisture availability imposed severe limitations on the seed germination of the selected plant species. The seeds of Trichosanthes cucumerina, Momocardia charantia and Abelmoschus esculentus showed different range of water potential tolerance for optimum germination.
Key words: Momocardia charantia, Trichosanthes cucumerina, Abelmoschus esculentus, water potential, Germination Index
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