Dormancy breaking methods and priming techniques to improve seed germination in gynandropsis gynandra (L.) briq syn cleome gynandra L. (Cleomaceae).
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Date
2022
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Abstract
Gynandropsis gynandra, commonly known as spider plant, is a leafy vegetable that belongs to the
Cleomaeae family. Spider plant is used for its medicinal properties, but also as a nutritional
supplement, and an animal (e.g., cows) feed. Farmers experience low and uneven germination
when planting this species that studies ascribed to physiological dormancy which leads to low and
uneven germination. The study was conducted to understand mechanisms involved in breaking
dormancy in spider plant seeds. The objectives were (a) to determine the effects of packaging
materials and storage period on seed germination, and (b) to determine the effects of priming
agents and duration on seed germination of G. gynandra. These objectives were achieved through
two experiments based on six accessions of G. gynandra originated from West Africa, East Africa,
and Asia. In the first experiment, the seeds were stored for four months at room temperature of
25℃ in brown paper bags, aluminium foil paper, and black polystyrene bags. After every storage
period, the seeds were tested for electrical conductivity (EC), viability using tetrazolium chloride
and germination ability to study the effects of storage period and packaging material on seed
viability and vigor of G. gynandra. In the second experiment, the six accessions were subjected to
two priming agents, PEG-4000, and distilled water, and tested for germination. Final germination
percentage (FGP), mean germination time (MGT), mean germination rate (MGR), coefficient of
the velocity of germination (CVG), and radicle length (RL) were recorded. Data analysis was done
using Genestat version 20th edition (VSN International, United Kingdom) at a 5% level of
significance. The study showed that G. gynandra fresh seeds displayed physiological dormancy
which can be broken by storing seeds for at least two months depending on the genotype in
aluminium foil paper. In this study, seed priming with PEG-4000 and distilled water had no effect
on seed germination of G. gynandra.
Description
Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.
Keywords
Seed germination.