Effects of gut passage by kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros) and pericarp on the germination percentage of morula (Sclerocarya birrea) seeds

The study was conducted to determine the effects of gut passage of Sclerocarya birrea (morula) seeds by Tragelaphus strepsiceros (tholo) and pericarp of S. birrea fruits on the germination time and percentage of S. birrea seeds. The S. birrea seeds used in this study were distributed into three sets of thirty. These were the gut passed seeds (GP), mechanically extracted seeds (ME) and seeds in intact fruits (IF). The GP and IF seeds served as treatments while ME seeds served as a control. The seeds were planted into black nursery bags filled with soil and kept in the shade. They were watered daily and the date on which seedlings appeared and the number of seedlings recorded as the seeds germinated. The duration of the study was 60 days. There was a statistically significant difference between seed percentage germination of different treatments (P < 0.0001). Gut passage of S. birrea seeds by T. strepsiceros enhanced seed germination percentage and time while seed pericarp inhibited S. birrea seed germination. Conservationists may introduce T. strepsiceros in areas where S. birrea is needed and may be decreasing in numbers.