Abstract

 A single factor experiment in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications was used to study the seed germination rates of five rainforest tree species at the Nursery of the Department of Forestry and Environmental Management, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria. Three hundred fruits/seeds of each of the following five tree species were collected from a relict forest and nearby long-term bush fallows: Canarium schweinfurthii, Terminalia ivorensis, Dacryodes edulis, Spondias mombin and Nauclea diderrichii. Germinated seeds were transplanted in large polythene bags (4cm x 10cm) at the Nursery, and watered twice daily. The germination type (hypogeal or epigeal), the total number and percentages of seed germination were recorded. Significant differences between the germination rates (% over time) of the tree species were determined, using the Fisher'sLeast significant differences (F-LSD) at p < 0.05. Terminalia ivorensis and Dacryodes edulis which had similar seed germination percentages gave significantly the highest germination rates. Spondias mombin had the least (p < 0.05) result. The seed germination percentages of the five tree species were significantly as follows: T. ivorensis = D. edulis > N. diderrichii = C. schweinfurthii > S. mombin. The type of gerrnination of the five species was epigeal