Seed germination and seedling morphology of Artabotrys hexapetalus

Abstract

Abstract. Handayani T. 2017. Seed germination and seedling morphology of Artabotrys hexapetalus. Nusantara Bioscience 9: 23-30.Artabotrys hexapetalus (L.f.) Bhandari (kenanga tanduk) is a fragrant, shrubby climber belonging to the Annonaceae family. In Indonesia, it is known as "kenanga tanduk". It is a commercial ornamental plant due to its beautiful, aromatic flowers. This plant is also used in the perfume industry and in traditional medicine. It can be naturally propagated from seeds. However, it takes a long time to germinate. The research reported here aimed to determine the seed germination process, early seedling development, and seedling morphology of A. hexapetalus seeds planted under controlled conditions in Bogor Botanic Gardens. Ninety seeds were planted in a sand medium. The timing of germination, its characteristic pattern and the morphology of young emerged seedlings were observed and recorded. The seed characters were observed by using a microscope and camera. The results confirmed that A. hexapetalus seeds take a long time to germinate. Different periods of fruit maturation, small immature embryos, hard seed coat and hard endosperm texture are some of the factors that cause its seed to take a long time to germinate. The hard seed is due to the presence of exotesta, mesotesta and endotesta layers in the seed coat, as well as to the ruminate endosperm shaped like a wide plate and hard like glass (glass-like endosperm). The earliest seed germination occurred 159 days after sowing. The duration of seed germination from planting to last germinated seed took as long as 238 days. However, final seed viability reached 80%, with the speed of germination from sowing until the time of germination on a given day ranging from 0.01 to 0.08% per day. The type of seedling emergence is Phanerocotylar-EpigealFoliaceous (PEF). The seed germination process of A. hexapetalus from radicle appearance until the first open leaf can be divided into six stages; i.e. radicle growing phase, radicle and hypocotyl growing phase, hypocotyl emergent phase, cotyledon emergent phase, cotyledon opening phase and the first leaf opening phase. The pair of cotyledons look like true mature leaves and are firmly attached, not shedding easily.

Advocacy for the Medicinal Plant Artabotrys hexapetalus (Yingzhao) and Antimalarial Yingzhaosu Endoperoxides

“…With beautiful and aromatic flowers, it is an ornamental plant now cultivated and also used in the perfume industry. The seeds are used for propagation, but the germination process is complex and long, taking as long as 238 days [ 17 ]. The plant is appreciated for its pleasant-smelling yellow flowers, from which a delicate essential oil, rich in sesquiterpenoids (such as β-caryophyllene and caryophyllene oxide), can be prepared [ 18 ].…”

Short communication: Germination monitoring of selected Annonaceae seeds: Seed bank collections of Purwodadi Botanic Garden, East Java, Indonesia

“…Epigeal type with seed coat detached from cotyledons is called phanerocotylar (Handayani 2021). According to Handayani (2017Handayani ( , 2019, the type of seed germination from the Annonaceae family is generally epigeal.…”

Diversity, potential and conservation of Annonaceae in Bogor Botanic Gardens, Indonesia

“…This research attempts to answer such questions as why certain species in the Gardens fail to flower, or flower but are unfruitful or produce only few fruit. This research includes observation of the type and number of pollinators, the pattern of blooming, the type and structure of the flowers, the development and maturation of fruit, and aspects of seed germination (Okada 1990, Handayani 2016, Handayani 2017. The research draws upon various scientific disciplines including taxonomy, physiology, phenology, morphology, ecology and plant propagation technology (Kessler 1988;Nurmawati 2003).…”

“…It consists of about 109 genera and 2440 species (Couvreur et al 2012). Economically, the family is important as a source of edible fruits (Aziz et al 2016);cosmetics and perfumes (Leboeuf et al 1982;Bele et al 2011, Akpabio andAkpapan 2012;Uyoh et al 2013;Handayani 2016); timber (Nurfadilah et al 2017); traditional medicines (Wang et al 2002;Blessing et al 2010;Purwantiningsih et al 2011;Wang et al 2012;Rosandy et al 2013;Biba et al 2014;Enabulele et al 2014); processed foods and beverages (Bele et al 2011;Akpabio and Akpapan 2012;Eze-Steven et al 2013;Tatdao et al 2014); ornamental plants (Handayani 2016;Handayani 2017); pesticides (Bele et al 2011;Cheng et al 2012); and other comodities (Wakhidah et al 2017). Members of the Annonaceae play an important ecological role in terms of species diversity, especially in tropical rainforest ecosystems (Couvreur et al 2012).…”