Seed propagation, adaptation to cultivation conditions, determination of ornamental plant properties, and ex situ conservation of the endemic species Centaurea hermannii F. Hermann

Abstract

This study focused on seed propagation and ex situ conservation of the endemic species Centaurea hermannii F. Hermann. Plant properties such as vegetation cycle, adaptation to the cultivation environment, morphological characteristics of the plants and seeds, and esthetic properties as an ornamental variety were investigated. The percentage of viability of the seeds, as well as the effects of different seed germination methods when applied to the germination speed, were also explored. C. hermannii specimens planted in soil adapted quickly under field conditions and flowered over a period of two months, with a bright-orange color and glossy blossoms. In addition, the plants displayed all the type-specific botanical and esthetic properties, as well as provided value as an ornamental plant. An ex situ conservation area was created with the plants collected. To determine the best germination conditions for C. hermannii seeds, various methods were explored. Among these, a combination of 200 ppm of GA3 treatment during a three-month storage period at 4 °C, followed by cold-wet stratification at 4 °C for three months, produced the best results in terms of mean percentage germination (70.5 %) and mean germination speed (3 days).

Generative production and evaluation of ornamental plant potential of an endemic flax species for ecological landscape applications

“…Our results confirm the information that cold–wet stratification (Russell, 2011) and GA 3 treatments (Del Egido et al, 2019; Kildisheva et al, 2019) are effective in dormant seeds without water penetration problems. Kırmızı et al (2018) and Yucel (2022) reported results parallel to our study. Kırmızı et al (2018) revealed that GA 3 and cold–wet stratification promoted seed germination by breaking dormancy in L. olympicum seeds.…”

“…Kırmızı et al (2018) revealed that GA 3 and cold–wet stratification promoted seed germination by breaking dormancy in L. olympicum seeds. Yucel (2022) also reported very similar results to our study. The researcher achieved the best germination results from combinations of cold–wet stratification and GA 3 treatments in Centaurea hermannii seeds.…”

“…Seed germination is a critical stage in the life cycle of plants. The seeds of native species are needed for seed renewal studies in gene banks, as well as for the restoration of natural habitats (Baskin & Baskin, 2020), for ex situ conservation studies of endemic species (Kırmızı et al, 2011; Yucel, 2022) and for germination (Baskin & Baskin, 2020; León‐Lobos et al, 2020). To carry out these conservation activities, it is necessary to determine the dormancy status of these endemic species, then to find out dormancy breaking treatments that end the dormancy of the seeds and to increase the seed germination rates (Kırmızı et al, 2019).…”

Germination methods and characteristics of endemic Centaurea olympica DC. Koch grown in cultural conditions

“…The seeds were approximately 4.48 x 1.71 mm in size, 1000 kernel weight was 3.2 g, and there were an average of 311.7 seeds per 1 g. Considering C. olympica seed structure, Eroğlu et al (2014) and Tel et al (2019) stated that the seed size of C. hermannii is 4 to 5 mm. Yücel (2022) From the seeds collected at the populations around Yalova Teşvikiye village in 2019, the net viability rate was 76.7%. However, this rate can vary greatly according to the years and the time of collection of the seeds.…”

“…Different results have been reported for the viability studies of Centaurea species. For example; Yücel (2022) determined the viability rate for C. hermannii seeds as 72.22%, while Atasagun and Aksoy (2018) determined 82% for C. amaena seeds, Yankova-Tsvetkova et al (2018) found this rate to be 17.5% for C. achtarovii, Özel and Khawar (2006) found 85% for C. tchihatcheffii, and Emek and Erdağ (2012) reported 80% viability for Rhaponticoides mykalea species. All these reports revealed that the viability rates can vary significantly according to species, years, and environmental conditions.…”