Effect of temperature on seed germination of Bombax costatum Pellegr. & Vuill. (Malvales: Malvaceae) from Ondo and Oyo States, Nigeria

Effect of temperature on seed germination of Bombax costatum Pellegr & Vuill. (Malvales: Malvaceae), from four provenances in South Western Nigeria was investigated. A set of three replicates of 25 seeds per provenance were used for the experiment which was laid in a completely randomized block design. The seeds were exposed to fire temperature regimes for germination tests: 28 oC, 20 oC, 5 oC, 35 oC and 20 oC. Seed germination was recorded for 4 weeks. Data obtained were subjected to analysis of variance. Result showed that significant differences in seed germination under varying temperature regimes (P < 0.05). Interaction effect between temperature and provenances was not significant (P < 0.05). Seeds placed in ambient temperature had the highest mean number of germination (20.75) while the least mean value (0.17) was observed for cold room (-20 oC). B. costatum seeds should be exposed to ambient temperature so as to promote seed germination.