DEVELOPMENT OF OPTIMAL CONDITIONS FOR THE GERMINATION OF ARGAN SEEDS (Argania spinosa (L.) SKEELS)

Argan tree (Argania spinosa (L.) Skeels) is a medium-sized, thorny tree endemic to the semi-desert Souss valley of southwestern Morocco. Cultivated for oil and fodder, it is considered the most important plant species in North Africa from both economic and ecological standpoints. In the present work, argan seeds originating from two producing regions, namely Essaouira and Agadir, were tested for germination in different substrates (sand, peat, and 1:1 mixture of sand and peat) in order to develop effective propagation protocols for this plant. The tests were carried out using different pretreatment methods (1 mg.L-1 GA3 at 4°C for 48 h; distilled water at 4°C for 2 h; 1 mg.L-1 GA3 at 4°C for 2 h; lukewarm water at 40°C for 48 h) and two types of explants (nut and kernel). Although the results varied slightly between the two origin regions, the use of the 1:1 mixture of sand and peat as substrate has clearly enhanced In vivo germination of argan seeds both in terms of rates and duration. On the other hand, nuts germinated at a higher rate than kernels regardless of the treatment applied.