Seed Germinations and Seedling Characters in Collected Accessions of Carica papaya in Some Southern State of Nigeria

Akinrotimi CA and Nwofia EN

Published on: 2025-05-17

Abstract

The study assessed seed germination and seedling characters in collected accessions of Carica papaya in some southern states of Nigeria. C. papaya were collected from five Southern Nigeria States: Abia, Imo, Rivers, Enugu, and Anambra. Six (6) accessions were collected per state, resulting in 30 accessions. Seeds from each accession were collected, dried, and later planted in nursery bags filled with humus soil. The results indicated that the emergence and vigor characteristics in different accessions of C. papaya seeds planted in the nursery revealed that the highest number of days to first emergence (23.3) was observed in accession AN4. While the lowest value of 17.0 was recorded in IM1. The mean value of days to first emergence among the accessions under consideration is 21.2. With regard to 50% first emergence of the seed, the highest number of days to 50% first emergence (35.0) was observed in accession RV6. While the lowest value of 22.0 was recorded in IM2. Furthermore, the highest percentage of emergence (80.0%) was observed in accession IM5. While the lowest value of 62.0% was recorded in EN2. The mean value percentage emergence among the accessions being considered is 69.5. In addition to this, the highest value of the total number of emerged seedlings (40.0) was observed in accession IM5. While the lowest value of 31.0 was recorded in EN2. The mean value of the total number of emerged seedlings among the accessions being considered is 34.7. Moreover, in this study, the highest values of seedling vigor index (2.7) were observed in accessions AB5 and EN2. While the lowest values of 1.1 were recorded in EN5 and RIV5. The mean value percentage emergence among the accessions being considered is 1.8. In this experiment, the highest seedling height (14.00cm) among the accessions was recorded in accession RV1, while the lowest (8.67 cm) was in accession EN5. The highest seedling girth (0.83) was recorded in accession IM6, while the lowest (0.53) was in accession AN5. While the highest seedling diameter (0.80 cm) was recorded in accession IM6, the lowest (0.43cm) was in accession EN6. Additionally, the highest number of seedling leaves (10.00) was recorded in accession IM5, while the lowest (6.33) was in accession AB6. Also, the highest seedling leaf length (22.67 cm) was recorded in accession IM3, while the lowest (12.67 cm) was in accession EN6. While the highest seedling leaf width (13.00 cm) was recorded in accession IM3, the lowest (6.00) was in accession AN5. This research therefore recommends AN4, followed by RV6, AB5, EN2, and IM5 for early germination, high seedling vigor, and growth attributes.