Abstract
Based on the scientific information available, E. trinervium is currently of conservation concern since it shows poor seedling growth even under satisfactory seed germination. Ex-situ cultivation is therefore recommended as a conservation strategy. This study aimed to (i) investigate the effective pre-sowing 6-Benzylaminopurine (BAP) treatment that enhances the seed germination and seedling vigour and (ii) to study morphological traits that can be used in assessing healthy seedlings of E. trinervium. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design under both laboratory and green house conditions with BAP concentrations of 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 mgL-1 as pre-sowing treatments and distilled water as the control with different exposure durations i.e. 18, 24 and 30 hours. The results showed that there was no significant effect of BAP treatments on seed germination percentage under laboratory and nursery conditions. The lowest average mean germination time (MGT) was obtained 24 h exposure duration for the green house condition. Seedling dry weight and seedling Vigour Index (SVI) were significantly (P0.05) higher for BAP concentration of 3.0 mgL-1 under 24 h exposure duration. Growth parameters i.e. number of leaves, plant height, root length, number of primary roots, dry weight and fresh weight of E. trinervium were significantly (P<0.05) induced by BAP concentration and exposure duration. Accordingly, BAP concentration of 3.0 mgL-1 under 24 h exposure duration proved to be the optimum BAP treatment for the increase of seedling vigour of E. trinervium under the green house conditions. Therefore, the present study suggests that BAP treatment may be involved metabolically in the stimulation of germination and then to increase the seedling vigour of E. trinervium. Journal of the University of Ruhuna 2015 3(1): 14-20
Highlights
Exacum trinervium is a slender wild herbaceous plant which is considered as a threatened endemic medicinal herb (Jayaweera, 1981; IUCN, 1999) in Sri Lanka
The effect of exposure duration had no significant effect on MGT under nursery conditions (Table 2), 24h exposure duration reduced mean germination time under nursery conditions
This study revealed that growth parameters significantly increased i.e. early seedling growth: number of leaves, plant height, root length and number of primary roots with the BAP treatment thereby that can increase seedling vigour of E. trinervium
Summary
Exacum trinervium is a slender wild herbaceous plant which is considered as a threatened endemic medicinal herb (Jayaweera, 1981; IUCN, 1999) in Sri Lanka. It is locally known as “Binara or Ginihiriya”. The distribution is restricted on account of the destruction and conversion of its natural habitats and may be due to climatic factors This eventually results in the occurrence of a very small population of this endemic plant in Sri Lanka. A group of scientists in Royal Botanic Garden, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, has prioritized
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