Methods of treatment which allow to disturb organic stability of carob seeds (Ceratonia siliqua L.) in vitro

The carob tree is cultivated in the Mediterranean, Syria is among them. The carob tree is an economical tree and can be used in many tree planting activities. Seed dormancy due to a hard skin layer occurs in climate-adapted plants. The organic dormancy of carob seeds is related to their water resistance, which means that in order to disturb the mechanical dormancy, it is necessary to treat carob seeds before planting. The main reasons for the decline genus Ceratonia L. are anthropogenic impact on natural ecosystems, as well as the uses of Ceratonia as food for people and animals. This problem is aggravated by the fact that seedling of Ceratonia in nature is very rare. The aim of this work was to study the methods of treatment to disturb dormancy. Four different pre-sowing treatments were performed: (soaking in boiling distilled water (70ºC) for 10 min and soaking in boiling distilled water (70ºC) for 10 min and then soaking in distilled water for 24 h, acid scarification with Sulphuric Acid (H2SO4), & acid scarification with Sulphuric Acid (H2SO4) and then soaking in distilled water for 24 h. We applied and examined effectiveness to stimulate Carob seed germination with Sulphuric Acid (H2SO4) and then soaking in distilled water for 24 h. This method of treatment turned out to be the most efficient: germination percentage is 98% compared to untreated seeds (5%).