ABSTRACT

Miracle Berry is an evergreen tropical shrub which modifies sour food to produce a sweet taste. Its piopagation is however, hindered by seed losing viability after some days of harvest and difficulty for the stem to root. Thus, method of propagation was investigated through application of various pre-sowing method with different levels oftreatment; planting without any pre-sowing treatment, formed the control (c), depulping and planting (DPP), depulping and sun drying (DPS), Depupling and Socking in water (DPSW), Depulp and Sock in bone mile (DPSBA) and also the fermented seed (FP). The specific objective was to identify pre sowing treatment required to give the highest germination rate within two months period. The parameters measured were mean percentage seed germination and mean time of first seed germination. The result indicated that treatment three (3) depulped and sun drying for three (3) days (DPS) gave 100% germination within 37 days of planting. While fermented seed (FP) gave 0% germination, therefore it could be established that seed of Synsepalum ducificum loses its viability immediately after harvest. Therefore, depulping and sun drying Itu Olokoro, Amaoba and Umudike respectively that the respondents had no knowledge of xi for three (3) days should be used to enhance germination of Synsepalum ducificum. Other parameters were structured questionnaire which indicated that in the three locations sampled, f ABSTRACT Miracle Berry is an evergreen tropical shrub which modifies sour food to produce a sweet taste. Its piopagation is however, hindered by seed losing viability after some days of harvest and difficulty for the stem to root. Thus, method of propagation was investigated through application of various pre-sowing method with different levels oftreatment; planting without any pre-sowing treatment, formed the control (c), depulping and planting (DPP), depulping and sun drying (DPS), Depupling and Socking in water (DPSW), Depulp and Sock in bone mile (DPSBA) and also the fermented seed (FP). The specific objective was to identify prethe plant. Floristic composition, life form spectrum of plants growing within five meters radius where Synsepalum ducificum were found was equally analyzed. This helped us in determining the ecological characteristics associated with the growth ofthe plant.