NIGERIAN JOURNAL OF FORESTRY

There is paucity of information on the choice of quality planting stock right from appropriate selection of seed weight for indigenous priority species in the tropics. In this light, investigation was conducted on the effect of seed weights on the germination and early seedling growth of Chrysophyllum albidum in the nursery of Federal College of Forestry Mechanization, Afaka, Kaduna State, Nigeria. The experiment was laid out in a Completely Randomized Design with five replicates to assess the effect of seed weights (1.2, 1.5 and 1.8g) on the germination and early seedling growth of Chrysophyllum albidum. A significant germination (100%), mean germination time (39days), carbohydrate content(71.63%), height (13.67cm)., number of leaves (3.4)., leaf area (26.74cm2)., fresh weight (1.35g), dry weight (0.45g) and biomass value (0.0095g/cm2) were recorded in seeds and seedlings of heaviest seeds (1.8g). Investigation revealed that highest girth (1.00cm) and leaf area index (0.63) were recorded from seedlings of heaviest seeds as well. Seed weight influences seed germination and seedling growth of C. albidum. The study therefore recommends planting of 1.8g of C. albidum seeds for the mass production of its seedlings in agroforestry nurseries.