Matriconditioning as an Invigoration Method on Oil Palm (Elaeis guineensis L. Jacq) Seeds

Abstract

Seeds of several plant species that have been stored for a certain period show better vigor after matriconditioning. Oil palm seed is classified as intermediate seeds which can only be stored for approximately one year. The experiment was aimed to observe the effects of matriconditioning on oil palm seed vigor, especially oil palm seeds that had been stored for more than one year. The experiment was carried out using a completely randomized design with three factors. The first factor was seed lots i.e., fresh seed lots (three replications, each stored for 3, 4, and 9 months) and old seed lots (three replications, each stored for 13, 14, and 41 months). The second factor was matriconditioning media and solutions, with 12 levels which were combinations between matroconditioning media (zeolite, vermiculite, and husk charcoal) and matriconditioning solutions (the emulsion of Trichoderma sp., 2% KNO₃, 2% KH₂PO₄, and water). Matriconditioning significantly increased air humidity (98.3 - 99.9%) compared to RH in the control (75.33%), and at the same time lowered the temperature around the seeds (27.7-27.8^oC) compared to the temperature around the control seed (27.9^oC). Matriconditioning also increased seed moisture content from 15.7% (control) to 16.13-16.48% which were suitable for further dormancy breaking process. A significant increase in germination percentage (GP) was not found between the matriconditioning treatments and the control, but the GP increase (4.3 - 12.6%) due to matriconditioning showed that this treatment could be applied to germinate oil palm seeds that had been stored for more than one year. The research also showed that water was sufficient as matriconditioning solution on oil palm seeds.