Studies on the germination of seed of the palms

Abstract

Experiments on the seed germination of four kinds of palms (Archontophoenix alexandrae, Ptychosperma macarthurii, Trachycarpus excelsa and T. fortunei) were carried out in 1966 and 1970, for the purpose of ascertaining the germination mechanism and of knowing the optimum condition for the germination.1. The endocarp of Archontophoenix alexandrae is thin and contains fibre. And the texture of endosperm is not uniform, because seed coat like tissues are mixed in it. A small tongue-like cotyledon elongates at a position close to the seed when the germination takes place.The seed of Ptychosperma macarthurii has five longitudinal deep grooves on the outside and its texture of endosperm is uniform. The pattern of germination is similar to the former species. The seeds of Trachycarpus excelsa and T. fortunei have corky tissues to which the endosperm is attached. A tubulous cotyledon elongates when the germination takes place.2. The maximum germination percentages of Archontophoenix, Ptychosperma, and two species of Trachycarpus are 40, 60 and 90% respectively.3. The smallest numbers of days to germination are 18, 14 and 30 in Archontophoenix, Ptychosperma and Trachycarpus excelsa respectively at the optimum temperature.It takes two or three more days in T. fortunei than in T. excelsa.4. The most favorable soil for germination bed is vermiculite or sand for Archontophoenix at high temperature, and clayey loam for Ptychosperma.There is no difference in germination of Trachycarpus excelsa among bed soils tested but clayey loam is better for T. fortunei at the high temperature.5. Seeds of T. excelsa hold their germination capacity for about 17 months with the room storage and 42 months with the cold storage (3-5°C).