A Sample Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the best way to grow the seeds of Scruffula trees. It was hypothesized that using an abrasion method on the seed coats of Scruffula trees would be the best method for germinating the seeds.

30 Scruffula seeds were obtained and were organized into three groups to be treated before planting the seeds in seed starting soil. The first group of seeds was soaked in water for 12 hours. The second group was scraped with sandpaper and then soaked in water for 12 hours. The third group was not treated to act as a control. Once planted, all seeds received the same amount of water daily and were kept in the same warm environment.

The control seeds germinated in 18 days on average, with only half of them germinating at all. It was found that soaking the seeds in water produced a better germination rate than not soaking the seeds at all. Of the seeds that were soaked for 12 hours without being abraded, seven germinated with an average time of 13.1 days. It was also found that abrading the seed coats produced a better result, with eight out of 10 germinating with an average time of 12.6 days.

An analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted with a resulting p-value of 1.11E-07 (highly significant). Further analysis was conducted with Chi-square tests of each treatment group compared to the control. The germination of the seeds that were soaked was not statistically significant compared to the control (p=0.76), but the seeds that were abraded had significantly better gemination than the control group (p=0.046).

The Scruffula tree has no known economic value, but its close relative, the Truffula tree, does. Truffula trees were known for their very soft tufts, which could be made into clothing. The Truffula populations were over-harvested, and there is one known seed remaining. The knowledge gained by this experiment can be used to germinate the seed of the Truffula tree.