<i>In Situ</i> Germination and Early Seedling Growth of Wormwood (<i>Artemisia annua</i> L.)

Abstract

Experiments were conducted on the farm of Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, during the 2012 hot season and 2013 cold season to determine the most effective treatment for rapid germination of Artemisia annua by subjecting the seeds to physical treatment by soaking in cold and warm water for 2, 4 & 6 hours and 1, 2 & 3 minutes, chemical treatment by soaking in 10%, 20% & 30% Sulphuric Acid (H 2 SO 4 ) for 1, 2 & 3 minutes respectively and hormone treatment (GA3) by soaking in 100 pp, 200 pp, 300 pp & 500 pp for 6, 12 & 24 hours. Results of Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) indicated no significant difference between the seasons with respect to germination, shoot and root lengths (p ≥ 0.05). However, warm water treatment at 60 ° C for 2 minutes during the rainy season trial had the least days to germination. Similarly, warm water treatments in both rain and irrigation trials at 40 ° C for 3 minutes and 60 ° C for 3 minutes produced the best vigor. Highest germination percent (96%) was observed during the rainy season trial with 10% Sulphuric acid treatment. Using warm water is a simple and affordable treatment especially to local farmers which will give the best result in the germination and seedling production of A. annua . Early March is recommended as the ideal planting period so that seedlings are transplanted on the field at the onset of rainfall.