Effect of Sodium Bicarbonate and Acetic Acid on Hibiscus Macrophyllus Seed-Borne Fungal Pathogens, Seed Germination, and Seedling Growth

Hibiscus macrophyllus, an important tropical tree, has high economic potential, however there are the problems in seedling procurement, i.e. seed dormancy and seed-borne pathogen. The purpose of the research was to evaluate the effect of sodium bicarbonate and acetic acid on fungal colonization, seed germination, and seedling growth of H. macrophyllus. A completely randomized design was used to test the six treatments: untreated seed, soaking seeds in boiling water and left 24 hours, soaking in boiling water and left 24 hours followed by soaking in acetic acid 1% (15 minutes), soaking in boiling water and left 24 hours followed by soaking in sodium bicarbonate 5% (15 minutes), soaking in acetic acid 1% (15 minutes) followed by soaking in boiling water and left 24 hours, soaking in sodium bicarbonate 5% (15 minutes) followed by soaking in boiling water and left 24 hours. Soaking in sodium bicarbonate 5% (15 minutes) followed by soaking in boiling water and left 24 hours could significantly decrease the fungal colonization. Sodium bicarbonate 5% and acetic acid 1% treatments could not improve seed germination. The sodium bicarbonate treatment followed by soaking in boiling water increased the seedling diameter, leaf length, leaf wide, root length, and leaf number