Abstract
Low and erratic germination in wild banana seed is caused by dormancy due to physical, anatomical or physiological reasons. Imbibition activates germination process and the rate of water uptake during imbibition is influenced by seed molecular composition and internal and external morphological structures. The present study aimed at examining the effect of seed anatomy and seed moisture content on water uptake by wild banana seeds. Matured fresh and dry, intact or scarified seeds of three wild banana ecotypes (Musa acuminata Colla) viz. Krau White, Serdang Red and Serdang Yellow were imbibed for up to 96 h. Percentage increase in seed mass was recorded at different intervals. Internal morphological structures of fresh and dry seeds were viewed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Seed mass increased rapidly within first hour and the rate of increase was always higher in dry seed than the fresh seed in all the ecotypes. The SEM observation revealed that the rapid increase of seed mass is likely due to the shrinking of the operculum and the surrounding tissues in the hilum area which resulted in the formation and widening of a water channel in dry seed. This study indicates that operculum does not impede water uptake in mature banana seed during imbibition, suggesting that seed dormancy in these three ecotypes is not due to physical dormancy but may be physiological in nature. Key words: Musa acuminata, imbibition, seed coat, scarification, physical dormancy.
Highlights
Bananas (Musa spp., Musaceae) are an important food crop in the subtropics and tropics and are routinely cultivated for ornamental purposes (Chin, 1996; Wong et al, 2001)
The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation revealed that the rapid increase of seed mass is likely due to the shrinking of the operculum and the surrounding tissues in the hilum area which resulted in the formation and widening of a water channel in dry seed
This study indicates that operculum does not impede water uptake in mature banana seed during imbibition, suggesting that seed dormancy in these three ecotypes is not due to physical dormancy but may be physiological in nature
Summary
Bananas (Musa spp., Musaceae) are an important food crop in the subtropics and tropics and are routinely cultivated for ornamental purposes (Chin, 1996; Wong et al, 2001). Edible bananas (triploid) are believed to have originated from hybridization between two wild banana (diploid) species, Musa acuminata Colla and Musa balbisiana Colla (Hakkinen and Hong, 2007). M. acuminata has larger contribution to the genome of the triploid cultivated species. The diploid wild banana produces fertile and viable seeds. The triploid cultivated bananas are parthenocarpic, which makes them sterile and unable to produce viable seeds. The widespread threat to Musa cultivation by fungal diseases in recent years has heightened interest in Musa breeding programme. The improvement of banana through breeding work is hindered due to low seed set as well as by slow and non-uniform germination (Graven et al, 1996)
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