A Study on Germination and Early Seedling Growth of Zea mays L.in Hibiscus sabdariffa Linn. Extract Treated Medium

Germination and early seedling growth of Zea mays in  aqueous extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa calyces treated medium  was conducted in the laboratory. The concentration levels of 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100%  were prepared through serial dilutions, while 0% (distilled water) was used as control. Elemental composition of calyces of H. sabdariffa was determined using standard procedures. 10 seeds of the test crop were sown in sterilized Petri dishes containing two sterile What-Man’s filter paper per treatment. Percentage germination and coefficient of velocity of germination counts were recorded at 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours after sowing all the seeds.  Growth parameters such as shoot length, root length, fresh weight and dry weight of the seedlings were measured after 20 days. Elemental analysis of  aqueous extract of H. sabdariffa calyces indicated the presence calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, phosphorus, nitrogen, iron, manganese, copper, zinc and lead in varied concentrations. The values of coefficient of velocity of germination and percentage germination of Zea mays were significantly (P u003c 0.05) decreased with increase in the concentration of H . sabdariffa  extract, except at 20% concentration level of H . sabdariffa  extract where slight stimulations were recorded in comparison with the control treatment. Similarly, the shoot length, root length, fresh weight and dry weight of maize seedlings were significantly (P u003c 0.05) decreased with increase in the concentration of H . sabdariffa  extract, except at 20% concentration level of H . sabdariffa  extract where the shoot length was slightly stimulated above that of the control treatment. This study suggests that  aqueous extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa calyces could negatively affect the germination and early seedling growth of Z. mays.