Effects of concentration of KNO3 and duration of soaking on germination of plant seed of kawista (Limoniaacidissima L.)

Kawista (Limoniaacidissima L.) is a fruit plantthat has many benefits, including its fruit being used as raw material for beverages, food, and medicines. However, its population is limited. The low population of kawista is due to its seeds being difficult to germinate, which can be classified as dormancy. One method to break this dormancy is through a chemical approach, using potassium nitrate (KNO3). A KNO3 solution is considered economical, easy, and safe to use. This solution can break the dormancy of seeds. This study was conducted from July 2024 to September 2024 using a Factorial Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The first factor was the concentration of KNO3, consisting of six levels: Water (0%), 0.25%, 0.5%, 0.75%, 1.00%, and 1.25%. The second factor was the soaking duration, with two levels: 12 hours and 24 hours. This study had 12 treatment combinations, each repeated three times. The data were analyzed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). If significant effects were found, a Tuckey test was carried out at a 5% significance level. There was an interaction between the combination of KNO3 concentration and soaking duration on seed viability and vigor in kawista based on the observation parameters. The treatment with 1.00% KNO3 concentration and 12 hours of soaking produced the highest average germination, while the 1.00% KNO3 concentration with 24 hours of soaking resulted in the highest average vigor index.