Preliminary investigations on germination of Sutherlandia frutescens and emergence of Ceratonia siliqua seed

Abstract

Many medicinal plant species and traditional crops are widely used in South Africa. Commercialization of these crops, however requires sustainable production systems. The first challenge encountered, when research into production systems was attempted, was often the availability of enough uniform material. A sustainable supply of quality material is also a pre-requisite for any form of commercialization. The development of seed production systems that can address the need for plant material, for both research and commercialization is thus an important first step towards sustainability. Preliminary trials to assess various aspects of seed germination and emergence were conducted during 2014-2015. Basic germination, emergence and scarification protocols were followed. Scarification of Ceratonia siliqua (carob) seed with either sulphuric acid or mechanically clipping the seed coat, combined with soaking in hot water increased the emergence from 10 to above 80%. Mechanical scarification of Sutherlandia frutescens (cancer bush) seed increased the germination from around 60 to above 90%. Seeds of the cancer bush that were stored for 1 to 2 years gave higher germination percentages than seeds stored for a longer period (3-4 years). These preliminary results can be used for extended studies to quantify germination results and develop sustainable production systems especially applicable to the small scale farmer.