Germination Responses, Early Growth Performances, Uses and Community Perceptions of Rhamnus Prinoides L’herit (Rhamnaceae) at T.Maychew Wereda, Central Zone, Tigray Regional State, Ethiopia.
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Date
2017-09-02
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Gesho is scientifically R. prinoides that belongs to genus Rhamnus, family Rhamnacae and order
Rhamnales that grows at altitude ranges from 1400-3200 masl. The objective of the study was to assess
berry germination responses of Rhamnus prinoides L’Herit (Rhamnaceae). The study also addressed
farmers’ perceptions about this economically useful plant. This is achieved by designing and
administering appropriate set of questionnaires to randomly selected respondents. The growth media
used were mixtures of red soil, animal dung and sand in a ratio of 2:1:1, respectively under shade
conditions. The study found that treated groups of seeds started germinating 20 days after planting these
in the germination media, but the control group started after 22 days. Treated seeds yielded a final
germination of 84%, while the control seeds resulted in 60%. Seedling survival of the treated R.
prinoides seeds was 84.5%, while the control group was 66.6%. The mean root collar diameter provided
1.2 mm and 1.1 mm for plants derived from the treated seeds and the control seeds respectively. Mean
value of height measured three times is 1.55cm, 3.05 cm 5.05 cm, and 1.5 cm 2.97 cm 4.85 cm for plants
derived from the treated and the control seeds, respectively. At the same time, mean number of leaves
(2.2, 3.3, 6.1 and 2, 3, 5.2) respectively at treated group with significant value. Dry weights (0.045 g and
0.032 g) for plants derived from the treated and control seeds, respectively, were significantly (p < 0.05)
different from one another. Questionnaires presented to selected members of communities indicated that
gesho plant is evergreen (with characteristically deep-green leaves), ecologically friendly and
economically useful. They affirmed that the species can resist the effect of termites and can be harvested
annually, if environmental conditions are favorable. However, the farmers lamented that this useful plant
was highly affected by exotic plants such as eucalypt trees, which have become all too common around
homesteads and smallholder backyard farms. Members of the communities (100%) said that R. prinoides
has multipurpose uses, including its use for traditional beverages (tella, tej, areki), for medicine, as well
as for economic benefits. According to 87.5% of the respondents, gesho plants differ in their periods of
flowering and fruiting. Significant number of respondents (75%) said that, gesho plants can grow to
flowering within 2-3 years, provided that environmental conditions are favorable. These respondents
added that flowering often occurs in June and July of anyone year. Quite a number of respondents (25%)
said, the plant can flower continuously, thus producing berries that pass through different developmental
stages that range from immature green and red to mature, black (purple) stage, at which berries are eaten
up by birds. This needs a great deal of care and patience is required for collecting ripe berries, since the
latter are favorite foods for birds. Most respondents (65%) said, they collect ripened fruits and they
follow correct steps but (35%) collect immature red from harvested leaves lead to an efficient
germination. A significant percentage (77.5%) of the respondents explained that seedling establishment
around homesteads is a challenge since it requires a constant supply of water. However, quite a number
of the same respondents (22.5%) emphasized the possibility of establishing gesho plants around
homesteads. The study also found out that it is not possible to make gesho leaf harvests more than twice
a year (70% of the respondents), while 30% of them claimed that more than two-times harvest per year is
possible if water and other inputs are available.
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Keywords
Berries, Biomass, Gesho Root Collar Diameter