Scarification and Seed Biomatriconditioning Effect Using Endophytic-Rhizobacteria in Areca Nut (Areca catechu L.) Seedling Vigor

<b>Background and Objective:</b> Intensive and commercial development of areca nut requires the provision of high-vigour areca nut. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of scarification and seeds biomatriconditioning using endophytic-rhizobacteria in increasing seedlings vigor of areca nut. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> The research was carried out at the Agronomy Unit of Agrotechnology Laboratory, Agriculture Faculty, Halu Oleo University, from November, 2020-March, 2021. The research design was split-plot in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The main plot, seed scarification, consisted of 2 treatments, without scarification and scarification. Sub-plots, seeds biomatriconditioning using endophytic-rhizobacteria, consisted of 6 treatments, control, L1-R, M5-R, LA6-R, LA2-E and RJ6-R. <b>Results:</b> The results showed that the scarification treatment did not affect the seedlings vigor of the areca nut. Seed biomatriconditioning using endophytic-rhizobacteria was able to increase seedling vigor both without scarification and with scarification. There were 3 isolates of endophytic-rhizobacteria which were more able to increase the vigor of areca nut without scarification, namely L1-R, LA6-R and LA2-E, with an increase of 137, 104 and 102%, respectively compared to the control, while in scarified seeds, L1-R isolate was able to increase the seedlings vigor of areca nut by 194% compared to the control. <b>Conclusion:</b> Scarification treatment did not affect the vigor of the areca nut. Seed biomatriconditioning with endophytic-rhizobacteria was able to increase the vigor of areca nut seeds either without scarification or with scarification.