Articles
GERMINATION OF MEDICINAL PLANT: SMILAX CAMPESTRIS GRISEB. (SALSAPARRILHA)
Article number
502_14
Pages
105 – 112
Language
Abstract
Smilax campestris Griseb. (Smilacaceae) is a climbing plant.
This species has a wide range of medicinal uses, however, its harvest is from wild stands, which may deplete its natural regeneration.
Physical analysis of S. campestris seeds yielded a humidity degree of 14% and a weight of 1000 seeds of 37.6 g.
Germination tests were carried out in Petri dishes containing 1% agar.
Constant temperatures were 10° and 15°C (darkness) and 20°, 25°, 30° and 35°C (in darkness and presence of light at 50 μmol m—2s—1). Thermoperiods of 10°–20°C, 15°–25°C, 20°–30°C, 25°–35°C (day-night temperature) were also performed.
Seeds that did not germinate were subjected to the tetrazolium test.
Higher percentage of germination were observed under high temperatures and absense of light: 83%, 88% and 91% at 25, 30 and 35°C, respectively.
Based on these results, it was suggested that seed of S. campestris are relative photoblastic.
With day/night variation of temperature, the highest percentage of germination was 51% at 25°–35°C. At temperatures below 20°C germination was not higher than 17%. The viability test indicated that a high number of seeds were viable, indicating a relative dormancy in temperatures below 25°C.
This species has a wide range of medicinal uses, however, its harvest is from wild stands, which may deplete its natural regeneration.
Physical analysis of S. campestris seeds yielded a humidity degree of 14% and a weight of 1000 seeds of 37.6 g.
Germination tests were carried out in Petri dishes containing 1% agar.
Constant temperatures were 10° and 15°C (darkness) and 20°, 25°, 30° and 35°C (in darkness and presence of light at 50 μmol m—2s—1). Thermoperiods of 10°–20°C, 15°–25°C, 20°–30°C, 25°–35°C (day-night temperature) were also performed.
Seeds that did not germinate were subjected to the tetrazolium test.
Higher percentage of germination were observed under high temperatures and absense of light: 83%, 88% and 91% at 25, 30 and 35°C, respectively.
Based on these results, it was suggested that seed of S. campestris are relative photoblastic.
With day/night variation of temperature, the highest percentage of germination was 51% at 25°–35°C. At temperatures below 20°C germination was not higher than 17%. The viability test indicated that a high number of seeds were viable, indicating a relative dormancy in temperatures below 25°C.
Authors
S.G.T. Rosa, A.G. Ferreira
Keywords
seed, propagation, ethnobotany, germinative behaviour, Smilacaceae
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