Effect of Different Pretreated Methods on Seedling Development of El-Gabal El-Akhdar Carob Tree (Ceratonia siliqua)

Abstract

Carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua L.), is a small to medium sized broadleaf, a slowly growing, woody evergreen, sclerophyll, and widespread specie occurring as a native plant in the Mediterranean Basin. Carob tree is an environmentally and economically important tree and it is an evergreen native wild species found naturally in El-Gabal El-Akhdar region which is located in the coastal belt of the northeastern region of Libya. Seeds pretreated with different methods were allowed to continue their growth and the measurements of development were studied. Carob seedlings which produced from pretreated with soaking in boiling water showed significant differences in their fresh weight, root and shoot lengths compared with untreated control seedlings, while results of dry weight was not significant compared to control treatment. The effect of using sulfuric acid pretreatments with different exposure periods, showed no significant differences in seedling parameters (dry weight, fresh weight, shoot and root lengths) compared to control. Because of its good ability to germinate and develop after treatment with boiling water which is easy, cheap and available, the study recommended that the Libyan carob can be used in any restoration, rehabilitation and reforestation programs.