Seed Germination Behavior of Eight Medicinal Plant Species of Sri Lanka

Abstract

With the increased demand, wild herbal medicinal plants are over exploited from wild populations. Lack of information on seed biology is an impediment in propagation and conservation of these species. Thus, the main aim of the study was to determine the seed germination behavior of eight medicinal plant species from Sri Lanka, assisting their conservation. Seeds were collected from the wet zone of Sri Lanka from at least five individuals from each species. Seed and embryo morphology was recorded. Seed moisture content (SMC) was determined by an oven dry method. Standard hundred seed test was conducted to determine the desiccation sensitivity. Seeds were incubated at 32o and 25o C in light/dark or complete darkness and signs of imbibition were observed. Effect of GA3 and manual scarification on seed germination was studied. Four replicates of at least 12 seeds were used in all experiments. Arcsine transformed data were analysed using one-way ANOVA. Seed size varied from 0.9 to 3.8 cm. Seeds of all the species had fully-developed embryos indicating absence of morphological dormancy. Signs of imbibition were absent in portion of Entada pusaetha, Adenanthera pavonina, Cassia fistula, Urena sinuata and Sida rhombifolia seeds indicating that they were physically dormant (PY). However, manually scarified E. pusaetha seeds have not germinated, indicating the presence of physiological dormancy (PD), i.e., these seeds have combinational dormancy (PY+PD). GA3 treatment, manual scarification +GA3 treatment and warm stratification increased the germination of Salacia chinensis, Calophyllum inophyllum and Madhuca longifolia seeds, respectively indicating that they also have PD. SMC suggested that S. chinensis, E. pusaetha, A. pavonina, C. fistula, U. sinuata and S. rhombifolia seeds have orthodox storage behavior, while the results of the hundred seed method indicated that C. inophyllum and M. longifolia seeds as recalcitrant and orthodox, respectively. Seed germination pattern of A. pavonina, and S. rhombifolia after storage suggested a possible occurrence of sensitivity cycling phenomenon. Storage breaks the dormancy of C. fistula, U. sinuata, S. rhombifolia (dry storage) and A. pavonina (Wet storage) seeds while GA3 was successful in relieifing dormancy of C. inophyllum (after scarification), M. longifolia and S. chinensis seeds.
Keywords: Orthodox, Physical dormancy, Physiological dormancy, Recalcitrant, Seed propagation, Storage behavior