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Germination and Initial Seedling Growth Performance of Vitex Pedunculariswall. Ex Schauer –a Threatened Native Tree Species of Bangladesh

G.N. Tanjina Hasnat
Dept.of Land Administration, Patuakhali Science and Technology University

Mohammed Kamal Hossain
Institute of Forestry and Environmental Sciences, University of Chittagong, Chittagong-4331, Bangladesh

Mohammed Shafiul Alam
Institute of Forestry and Environmental Sciences, University of Chittagong, Chittagong-4331, Bangladesh

M Kalimuddin Bhuiyan
Institute of Forestry and Environmental Sciences, University of Chittagong, Chittagong-4331, Bangladesh

Md. Akhter Hossain
Institute of Forestry and Environmental Sciences, University of Chittagong, Chittagong-4331, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Vitex peduncularis Wall. ex Schauer, locally known as Goda, is a threatened native tree species of Bangladesh. In addition to providing many other services this produces,timber of high density, which is traditionally,used for different construction activities. Though seed production is regular but natural germination of seeds is not satisfactory due to the hard seed coat. Effect of pre-sowing methods was studied to find out the best pre-sowing method for higher rate of V. peduncularis seeds germination. Randomly selected quality seeds were sown in propagator house with Sylhet sand media, in conventional polybags with 3:1 soil and cow-dung media, and in nursery beds with soil media only. Significantly (P<0.05) highest seed germination (46%) was observed in propagator house. The germination energy (7.9%), plant percent (31.5%) and germination value (147.2) were highest in the seedlings raised in polybags. These seedlings also exhibited better growth in the initial stage at nursery. The records of initial growth of the seedlings indicated highest shoot length (38 cm), root length (34.3 cm), node number (15) and leaf area (18.9 cm × 4.7 cm) for seedlings grown in polybags. Seedlings grown in polybags were more vigor and thrive better than the seedlings germinated in propagator house and nursery bed. This paper will be a supportive material for more advanced studies on seed germination and for establishing plantation with rare but valuable species by raising commercial nurseries.

Keywords: Native tree species, Pre-sowing treatments, Germination, Seedling growth, Propagator house, Growth media

Location: Seed Research Laboratory of Institute of Forestry and Environmental Sciences, Chittagong University (IFESCU).

Start Date: 00-08-2012

End Date:

Program Area: Conservation and Biodiversity

Commodity: Plant

Objectives:

The aim of this study was to find out the germination behavior and initial seedling growth performance of V. peduncularisin nursery stage with proper care in comparison to the natural condition in forests.

Methodology:

Seed collection and handling in nursery Fruits of V. peduncularis were collected from Dulhazara, Bangladesh during August 2012. Phenotypic characteristics of fruits and seeds were then measured in the Seed Research Laboratory of Institute of Forestry and Environmental Sciences, Chittagong University (IFESCU). Fruits selected randomly for the experiment ranges from0.8-0.9 cm in length and 0.9-1.0 cm width. About 1667-2000 fruits and 6000-6667 seeds were found in one kg. After measurements seeds were extracted manually by rubbing fruits on rough surface. Before rubbing it needed to immersion fruits in water for overnight. Extracted seeds were weighted and then dried in open sun for three days. After that the dried seeds were sown in different sowing media. All the processes were completed within one week of fruit collection. Experimental design The experiment was conducted through 1 and half-year period starting from August 2012. It was designed with three sowing media treatment methods with three replications for each treatment. A total of 2800 seeds were sown in all sowing media. Each experimental plot was planned with a complete randomized design. Including control, three treatments were applied: i) Seeds sown in nursery bed1, ii) Seeds sown in polybags, and iii) Seeds sown in propagator house2. Growing media used in the experiment was collected from the forest floor. After collection soil was screened well with <3mm sized sieve and mixed with decomposed cow-dung in a ratio of 3:1 to prepare soil and cow-dung media. The three types of treatments with growing media werei) Polybags of 15 cm × 10 cm (6”× 4”) filled with the soil and cow-dung mixture (3:1) and put in open sun light, ii) Propagator house with Sylhet sand3 media and controlled from rain and open sun with special plastic shade, and iii) Nursery bed prepared as an alternative of forest floor and set with soil only. Partial shade with trees was provided in the nursery bed. Seeds were selected randomly and then sown in different media. Seeds were sown in rows in polybags and propagator house, while in nursery bed seeds were scattered as in natural forest floor.Daily weeding and two times watering were done regularly. The experiment was conducted in the normal atmospheric temperature where mean annual temperature was 25.7°C, humidity 78.04% and rainfall 2,794 mm. Only in propagator house temperature and humidity was relatively high as it controlled, and daily sprinkling at two times was provided for required water and moisture. Data collection and analysis Germination behaviors were recorded in daily basis at the date of seed sowing and continued up to eight months. Germination percentage measured by counting germinated seeds out of 100 (Kumar, 1999). Cumulative germination percent measured at the end of total seed germination by summed up daily germination. The germination energy assessed by calculating daily germination percentage of its peak time (Dwivedi, 1993). Initial germination was estimated using the Maguire index rate (Maguire, 1962), a time-weighted cumulative germination index that measures the speed of germination (Brown and Mayer, 1988), calculated as the sum of the percentage of seeds germinating on each day divided by the number of days since the germination test began (Schrauf et al.1995). Mean time to germination (MGT), also expressed as speed of germination (Soleymani and Shahrajabian, 2018), measures of the rate and time-spread of germination (Bewley et al.2013). It is calculated as the weighted mean of the germination time. The number of seeds germinated in the intervals of time established for data collection is used as weight (Ranal and Santana, 2006). Rate of germination is the reciprocal of MGT (Mukarati et al.2013). The coefficient of uniformity of germination measures the variability among seeds in relation to the mean germination time of the sample (Heydecker 1973;Bewley and Black,1994). Survival percentage was determined by counting total seedlings survived at the end of the experiment. Germination value was found after multiplying peak value of germination (PV) and mean daily germination (MDG).

Source of Information: J. Biosci. Agric. Res. 20(02): 1700-1708

Article Link (Online Journal): https://doi.org/10.18801/jbar.200219.207

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

This study explored the basic germination characters and initial growth of the seedlings including germination percentage, energy, value, root and shoot growth etc. Based on the findings of this study it may be concluded that seeds of V. peduncularis responded differently to the different sowing media. Seeds sown in the propagator house revealed best germination performances (46%) than control (12.8%). Seedlings grown in polybags with soil and cow-dung media showed better morphological behaviors than seedlings grown in other sowing media. From the study,it is suggested to raise seedlings in polybags with soil and cow-dung media for vigor seedlings. Further researches are recommended on seed viability, germination and vigor seedling production.

Knowledge Management: Journal