05.05.2013 Views

View/Open - ResearchSpace - University of KwaZulu-Natal

View/Open - ResearchSpace - University of KwaZulu-Natal

View/Open - ResearchSpace - University of KwaZulu-Natal

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

Germination physiology<br />

seeds <strong>of</strong> R. camerooniana appears to have deep endogenous morphophysiological<br />

dormancy, as excised embryos showed no growth response and the apparent<br />

causes may include a physiological germination inhibiting mechanism or rudimentary<br />

embryos (BASKIN & BASKIN, 1998).<br />

4.5 SUMMARY<br />

• Germination experiments revealed that R. diversiformis and R. rosea seeds<br />

germinate best at 10°C. R. flava seeds germinate best when cold stratified for<br />

21 days and R. monadelpha seeds showed some response at 15°C in the<br />

dark indicating photoblastically negative behaviour.<br />

• An initial in vitro germination experiment showed germination above 57% for<br />

R. diversiformis, R. leipoldtii, R. minutiflora and R. flava seeds placed at 15°C;<br />

while seeds <strong>of</strong> other species placed at 15°C had less than 30% germination.<br />

• Seeds <strong>of</strong> R. diversiformis, R. flava, R. leipoldtii, R. minutiflora, R. monadelpha<br />

and R. sabulosa may have non-deep endogenous morphophysiological<br />

dormancy, whereas seeds <strong>of</strong> R. camerooniana appear to have deep<br />

endogenous morphophysiological dormancy.<br />

114

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!