In vitro seed germination of local red pummelo (Citrus maxima (Burm.) Merr.) from Pangkep Regency, South Sulawesi

Abstract

South Sulawesi is one of the centers of citrus development in Indonesia. Potential production centers are in Pangkep Regency. One of the cultivars that are cultivated and become a commercial farm is the red pummelo. Red pummelo has higher total phenolic and carotenoid content, so it is a good source of antioxidants and has the potential to become a superior functional food. The aim of this study was to obtain the optimal concentration of benzyl amino purine (BAP) hormone on in vitro germination of red pummelo. Planting material used in this study was seeds extracted from fruit obtained from citrus plantations in Pangkep Regency, South Sulawesi. After sterilization, the seeds were planted on MS media with the treatment of BAP 0; 0.5; 1; 1.5; 2; and 2.5 ppm. Observations were made for 8 weeks with the parameters of the number of shoots, number of leaves and number of roots. The data were analyzed using the Kruskal Wallis test at the 5% level, and if there was a significant effect, it was continued with the Mann-Whitney test. The results showed that the BAP had a significant effect on the parameters of the number of roots with a value of 0.11 and the number of shoots with a value of 0.16. The results of the Mann-Whitney further test showed that there was a significant difference between the 2.5 ppm and 0 ppm BAP treatments on the number of roots and the 2.5 ppm and 1.5 ppm BAP treatments on the number of shots.