Studies on Propagation Biology of Four and Phenology of one Medicinal Plants
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Date
2009-01
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Studies on the phenology of Plumbago zeylanica L.(Plumbaginaceae), and propagation biology of
other four highly threatened medicinal plants, namely Echinops kebericho Mesfin (Astraceae), Glinus lotoides L. (Mol
luginaceae) Securidaca longepedunculata Fres. (Polygalaceae) and Taverniera abyssinica L. (Leguminosae) were
conducted with a view to conserving and developing these threatened medicinal plants. The objectives of this
research were (1) to study the reproductive biology of P. zeylanica; and (2) to develop (i) seed-based propagation
methods of E. kebericho, G. lotoides and S. longepedunculata, (ii) vegetative propagation by stem cuttings of G.
lotoides, and (iii) in vitro regeneration of T. abyssinica.
Mature seeds were used as the starting plant material for all the studied species. Different parameters affecting seed
germination and seedling establishment were studied for E. kebericho, G. lotoides and S. longepedunculata.
Seedlings were only used for T. abyssinica and G. lotoides in tissue culture and vegetative propagation techniques,
respectively. Studies on the phenology of P. zeylanica were conducted under glasshouse and nursery conditions
using several parameters such as plant size, seasonal climate, and hormone application and mating system. A
tissue culture protocol was tested from several explants, on two basic media and with hormone treatments for T.
abyssinica.
Seeds of E. kebericho sterilized for 9 and 5 minutes in 70% ethanol and in 10% sodium hypochlorite, respectively, g
erminated best (95.2 ± 1.2%) on Murashige and Skoog medium, supplemented with 10 g l_1 phytoagar. Further incre
ases or decreases in sterilization time decreased percentage germination and increased contamination, respectively.
Untreated seeds (control) were completely contaminated before the emergence of radicle as a result of fungi
growth. Seed germination percentage declined with increasing storage time and dropped from 95 ± 0.4 % to 32.2 ±
1.2% in 15 months. Twenty-five degrees centigrade was an optimal temperature for best germination (94.6 ± 2.4%)
of seeds compared to others. Seeds sown in pots containing a mixture of sand, nursery soil, and animal manure in a
ratio of 0.5:2.5:0.5 respectively, germinated significantly (p< 0.05) compared to other soil ratios. Increases in sand
or animal manure ratios decreased germination, while increases in nursery soil increased percentage and rate of
germination. High percentage (96± 0.5%) germination was obtained with the seeds sown on nursery soil–surface
mixed additives compared with the control. Seeds stored for less than 5 months, and at 25 oC, were the most
suitable for in vitro and ex vitro germination of E. kebericho. Seedlings of nursery bed origin survived best compared to those in vitro or pot origin seedlings.
Seeds of G. lotoides treated with water at 70o C for 10 to 30 minutes or GA3 (10-3 and 10-4 M) did not show significant
(p<0.05) difference in germination compared with the control. Seeds sown in pots containing a mixture of nursery
soil, cattle dung, and sand in a ratio of 2:1:0.5, respectively, germinated best (91.6%) compared to other soil ratios,
which showed rapid reduction in germination percentage with increases in cattle dung or sand. Seeds stored for 2
months gave best germination (93.7%) compared to ones stored for 5, 8 and 11 months, which showed decreases
with increasing storage time. Apical stem cuttings gave the highest rooting percentages (90.2%), root number (8.02)
and root length (6.18 cm) with or without hormone treatment than basal stem cuttings. In general, the number and
length of roots decreased with applied indolebutyric acid (IBA) concentration. The highest rooting percentage
(98.2%) was obtained in a rooting medium consisting of sand, nursery soil, and cattle dung, in equal proportions
followed by 1.5:1:0.5 ratios of the same constituents. The percentage of survived rooted cuttings decreased with
increasing age of stockplants from which the cuttings were derived. Rooted cuttings obtained without IBA treatment
survived significantly (P<0.05). The study found that G. lotoides can effectively be propagated by both sexual and
asexual means provided that germination media of specific are employed, and the apical cuttings derived from
young seedlings are used for maximal rooting responses.
Seeds of P. zeylanica germinated best and vigorously grown (on a mixture of nursery soil and cattle dung in a ratio
of 3:1 filled in pots (glasshouse) or on nursery bed-surface mixed cattle dung) as a prerequisite for vegetative and
flowering phenological studies. Hypogeal germination characterizes the emergence of seedlings. Subsequent
vegetative and flowering phenology between glasshouse and nursery seedlings showed significant difference
(p<0.05) in terms of time, duration and yield. Glasshouse seedlings completed their phenophases (aseasonally)
within 105 days while nursery seedlings extended to 225 days after seed sowing. Rainy season was the cause for
the continuous damage of apical shoots, and consequently stunted vegetative growth of nursery seedlings. Plant
size (≥ 95 cm in height), leaves number (33-38) and seasonal climate (wet season) were found to be the most
signals for the initiation of flowering buds. Hundred ppm GA3 was the most effective for early flowering (i.e., before 6
days) and production of higher number of flowers (32.6 ± 1.6%) compared to the control (22.5 ± 1.33%). The mode
of reproductive biology appeared to be cross pollination and showed significance (p<0.05) compared to the control.
The highest flowering (92.40 ± 0.52%) and/or seed-set (85.23 ± 3.55%) were obtained under glasshouse condition compared to the nursery, which dropped as low as 50% in seed-set due to the damage of apical shoots during rainy
and cold seasons, and differences of the adaptation of the species under both conditions.
In vitro and ex vitro seed germination, extent of seedling survival and establishment has been developed for S.
longepedunculata. Seeds treated with gibberellic acid (10-3 M GA3) germinated best (>94.6+1.32%) on Murashige
and Skoog medium supplemented with 8 g 1-1 phytoagar or on the sterilized sand filled in a glass culture
vessel. Seedlings germinated on MS survived best (81.6 ± 1.34%) and formed strong stems, multi-roots and many
branchlets compared to the sand origin seedlings, which showed a high mortality rate upon transfer to glasshouse
conditions due to hypocotyl elongation and a poorly developed root system. Seeds sown in pots containing a mixture
of sand, nursery soil, animal manure in a ratio of (2:0.5:0.5, respectively) gave highest germination (94.6 ± 2.14%)
compared to other ratios of soil mixture. Percentage germination decreased with decreases and increases of sand
and nursery soil ratios, respectively. Only a poor germination (>50%) was obtained with seeds sown on the
seedbed. Seeds stored at 25 oC germinated best compared to others and the seed viability was declined with
storage time.
The best in vitro germination ((96 + 0.6%) of T. abyssinica seeds and vigorous seedlings growth as a prerequisite for
the development of tissue culture methods was obtained on Murashige and Skoog medium, supplemented with 12 g
1-1 phytoagar without sucrose. Light green compact calli from node, petiole and shoot meristem explants were
efficiently induced on Gamborg medium containing 0.90 or 1.80 μM dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) combined
with 2.22 μM 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP), and supplemented with 30 g 1-1 sucrose and 5 g 1-1 phytagel. Callus
induction and plant regeneration has been established for dingetegna, Taverniera abyssinica. Light green compact
calli from node, petiole and shoot meristem explants were efficiently induced on Gamborg medium containing 0.90
or 1.80 μM dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) combined with 2.22 μM 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP), and
supplemented with 30 g 1-1 sucrose and 5 g 1-1 phytagel. Callus initiation from shoot meristems and nodes was
faster and occurred with a higher frequency than callus initiation from petiole and leaf segments. A high frequency
(100%) of shoot regeneration was obtained upon transfer of calli onto regeneration medium containing 8.88 μM BAP
combined with 1.14 μM indoleacetic acid (IAA). Regenerated shoots were transferred to rooting medium, which
turned out to be optimal when half strength B5 medium was supplemented with 9.84 μM indolebutyric acid (IBA).Upon transfer to glasshouse, 86% survived and grew vigorously. The main results indicate that both in vitro and ex vitro seed-based can be used for the propagation of E. kebericho,
S. longepedunculata and G. lotoides although in vitro seed culture of G. lotoides showed less germination even in
the absence of contamination. G. lotoides was successfully propagated by stem cuttings without hormone
treatments. Rainy season, plant size, leaves number, low temperature, cross pollination and glasshouse conditions
were found to be the most determining factors for the phenology of P. zeylanica. Light green compact calli, high
frequency of shoot regeneration and regenerated roots of T. abyssinica were successfully obtained and acclimatized
upon transfer to glasshouse conditions. However, further studies on the development of tissue culture, genetic
analysis and the ecological requirements are the next steps for the effective use of the propagation protocols
developed by this study.
Key words: Ethnobotany Ethiopia, medicinal plants, seed germination, in vitro regeneration, reproductive biology,
vegetative propagation
Description
Keywords
Ethnobotany Ethiopia, medicinal plants, seed germination, in vitro regeneration, reproductive biology, vegetative propagation