Effect of physical treatment and presence of the pericarp and sarcotesta on seed germination in sago palm (Metroxylon sagu Rottb.)

The effects of physical treatment and the presence of the pericarp and sarc otesta on seed germination were studied in sago palm (Metroxylon sagu). Ger mination counts were made for seeds submerged completely in water at 30 deg reesC in the dark. (1) Seeds from which the pericarp (exocarp and mesocarp) and sarcotesta were removed, i.e. cleaned seeds, germinated. In contrast, seeds with pericarp and/or sarcotesta still attached i.e. uncleaned seeds, did not germinate at all within 100 days because water absorption was restr icted mainly by the pericarp. (2) When cleaned seeds were placed in water w ith the pericarp, germination was delayed. Soaking cleaned seeds with the p ericarp and sarcotesta resulted in no germination in 100 days. However, ger mination was not hindered when the cleaned seeds were mixed together with o nly the sarcotesta. It is concluded that the presence of the pericarp and s arcotesta are major factors limiting germination of sage palm seeds. The me chanism by which this inhibition of germination is effected is discussed.