Journal of Horticultural Sciences

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Fruit/Seed Morphology, Seed Drying and Germination Studies in Baccaurea courtallensis (Muell.) Arg., a Threatened Under-Utilized Fruit Species of Western Ghats in India


Affiliations
1 ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Hesaraghatta Lake Post, Bengaluru – 560 089, Karnataka, India
2 TBGRI, Palode, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
 

A study was under taken on fruit and seed morphology, seed drying, seed germination and storage behavior in Baccaurea courtallensis, as, this plant is propagated mainly through seeds. Its fruit is a berry consisting of an outer, semi-hard but fleshy rind 2-3 mm thick. The cavity inside the rind is normally occupied by a single, arillate seed, but, two seeds are also seen occasionally. Fresh rind was found to be rich in antioxidants, with 237mg total phenols and 93mg flavonoids per 100 gram fresh weight, but was poor in Vitamin C. A thick, fleshy endosperm is surrounded by the inner seed-coat. The endosperm surrounds the embryo consisting of two papery-thin cotyledons and a minute embryonic axis. Germination was highest (96.7%) when seeds were sown immediately after extraction, with moisture content of about 50%. Reduction in moisture to below 34% showed a drastic decrease in germination. Dried seeds took longer to germinate than did the fresh ones. Seeds with 21% moisture recorded about 60% germination whereas, seeds with 10.2% or 8% moisture failed to germinate, indicating a recalcitrant seed. Temperature in the range of 25-30°C was found to be optimum. Of the two media tested for raising the seedlings, cocopeat medium was superior as, it induced faster growth of the seedlings. Seedling ischolar_main and shoot were considerably longer, with higher seedling survival rate in cocopeat than in the soil-mix medium. Seedling establishment was poor when planted out of their natural habitat.

Keywords

Baccaurea courtallensis, Seed Morphology, Seed Moisture, Seed Germination.
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  • Ratheesh Narayanan M.K., Anilkumar, N., Balakrishnan, V., Sivadasan, M. Ahmed, Alfarhan, H. and Alatar, A.A. 2011. Wild edible plants used by the Kattunaikka, Paniya and Kuruma tribes of Wayanad District, Kerala, Indian J. Med. Pl. Res., 5:3520-3529 http://www.academicjournals.org/journal/JMPR/ article abstract/E590BC120048

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  • Fruit/Seed Morphology, Seed Drying and Germination Studies in Baccaurea courtallensis (Muell.) Arg., a Threatened Under-Utilized Fruit Species of Western Ghats in India

Abstract Views: 209  |  PDF Views: 130

Authors

H. S. Yogeesha
ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Hesaraghatta Lake Post, Bengaluru – 560 089, Karnataka, India
S. Ganeshan
ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Hesaraghatta Lake Post, Bengaluru – 560 089, Karnataka, India
K. S. Shivashankara
ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Hesaraghatta Lake Post, Bengaluru – 560 089, Karnataka, India
D. L. Shetty
ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Hesaraghatta Lake Post, Bengaluru – 560 089, Karnataka, India
C. Anil Kumar
TBGRI, Palode, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India

Abstract


A study was under taken on fruit and seed morphology, seed drying, seed germination and storage behavior in Baccaurea courtallensis, as, this plant is propagated mainly through seeds. Its fruit is a berry consisting of an outer, semi-hard but fleshy rind 2-3 mm thick. The cavity inside the rind is normally occupied by a single, arillate seed, but, two seeds are also seen occasionally. Fresh rind was found to be rich in antioxidants, with 237mg total phenols and 93mg flavonoids per 100 gram fresh weight, but was poor in Vitamin C. A thick, fleshy endosperm is surrounded by the inner seed-coat. The endosperm surrounds the embryo consisting of two papery-thin cotyledons and a minute embryonic axis. Germination was highest (96.7%) when seeds were sown immediately after extraction, with moisture content of about 50%. Reduction in moisture to below 34% showed a drastic decrease in germination. Dried seeds took longer to germinate than did the fresh ones. Seeds with 21% moisture recorded about 60% germination whereas, seeds with 10.2% or 8% moisture failed to germinate, indicating a recalcitrant seed. Temperature in the range of 25-30°C was found to be optimum. Of the two media tested for raising the seedlings, cocopeat medium was superior as, it induced faster growth of the seedlings. Seedling ischolar_main and shoot were considerably longer, with higher seedling survival rate in cocopeat than in the soil-mix medium. Seedling establishment was poor when planted out of their natural habitat.

Keywords


Baccaurea courtallensis, Seed Morphology, Seed Moisture, Seed Germination.

References