Seed Treatment Effects on Emergence of Luffa aegyptiaca
Luffa aegyptiaca (Luffa sponge gourd) is increasingly seen as both a source of vegetative nutrition and as a source of the “luffa” used as to exfoliate during bathing. As such, the commercial growing of Luffa aegyptiaca is increasingly being investigated using more intensive farming methods. Two factors traditionally used to promote / speed germination and emergence of vegetable seeds is investigated. It is concluded that temperature pre-treatment of the seeds (-12°C,24 hours) yields a p=0.004 significance in promoting emergence, whilst pre soaking (water, 18°C, 24hrs) yields p=0.821
Seed Treatment Effects on Emergence of Luffa Sponge Gourd
Luffa sponge gourd (Luffa aegyptiaca Mill.; also L. cylindrica) belongs to the Cucurbitaceae along with squash and pumpkin (Cucurbita spp.), gourd (Cucurbita spp., Lagenaria spp.), melon (Cucumis melo L.), and cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.). It is an annual climbing vine with tendrils, growing primarily in tropical and subtropical regions. The seeds are flat, smooth, and black or white (11). This species has been cultivated since ancient times in the far east and the Indian subcontinent, and has since been introduced to the Middle-east and Africa, and more recently into the Americas. The fruit is harvested at an immature stage (both fruit and seeds are soft), and is eaten as a cooked vegetable (prepared like summer squash). In most countries, it is cultivated in small plots in family gardens, usually for domestic consumption, with commercial cultivation being of secondary importance. However, it is beginning to appear in the international market place (6, 7). Germination percentages of several vegetable species have been shown to increase after seed treatment with chemicals and various osmotica (1, 4, 10, 13, 18). Luffa seed germination has been reported to be slow and sporadic (2). Low percentage of seed germination is a major problem in establishing a luffa crop, with typical rates of less than 75% (17). The seeds of many species of cucurbits are nonendospermic and germination is epigeal. Dormancy can be severe problem in some cucurbit species. It is comparatively easy to induce dormancy by testing the seeds for germination in unfavorable environments. In particular, the germination test substrate should not be too moist and only very low intensity light treatments should be applied. In most cases, it is probably best to perform seed germination tests in darkness. Successful dormancy-breaking treatments in sponge gourd are observed to be use of constant temperatures with optimum range of 30 to 35°C, scarification of the seeds before germination, cracking the seed coat before germination, and use of moist sand for the germination medium.
The Effects of Light and Temperature on Germination and Growth of Luffa aegyptiaca
The effects of light and temperature on the germination and growth of Luffa aegyptiaca were investigated both in the laboratory and in the field. The seeds germinated in both darkness and light but germination was better in the light. 
 
 
 
At constant temperatures germination was best at 21°C, while alternating temperatures of 21 and 31°C and 15 and 41°C caused higher germination than the most favourable constant temperature. Constant temperatures of 15 and 31°C and alternating temperatures of 21 and 41°C resulted in very low germination, whereas no germination occurred at 41°C and at alternating temperatures of 31 and 41°C. Soil depth caused only a delay in seed germination, as it did not affect the total germination. 
 
 
 
High temperature and high light intensity resulted in good seedling growth in terms of dry weight, leaf area and relative growth rate. High temperature and low light intensity caused increased plant height and high shoot weight ratio, both of which manifested in seedling etiolation. They also caused high leaf area ratio. Under low temperatures, irrespective of light intensity, growth was generally poor, but it was significantly poorer under low light intensity, which also caused high root weight ratio. High light intensity was principally responsible for high leaf weight ratio. The results help to explain the abundance of the species in newly cleared areas in Lagos and its environs.