European Journal of Scientific Research - EuroJournals
European Journal of Scientific Research - EuroJournals
European Journal of Scientific Research - EuroJournals
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<strong>European</strong> <strong>Journal</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Scientific</strong> <strong>Research</strong><br />
ISSN 1450-216X Vol.14 No.3 (2006), pp. 339-345<br />
© Euro<strong>Journal</strong>s Publishing, Inc. 2006<br />
http://www.eurojournals.com/ejsr.htm<br />
Germination Studies in Selected Native Desert Plants <strong>of</strong> Kuwait<br />
Sameeha Zaman<br />
Aridland Agriculture and Greenery Department<br />
Kuwait Institute for <strong>Scientific</strong> <strong>Research</strong><br />
P. O. Box 24885 Safat, 13109, Kuwait<br />
Email: szaman@safat.kisr.edu.kw<br />
Tel: (00965) 4836100, Fax: (00965) 4815194<br />
Shyamala Padmesh<br />
Aridland Agriculture and Greenery Department<br />
Kuwait Institute for <strong>Scientific</strong> <strong>Research</strong><br />
P.O. Box 24885 Safat, 13109, Kuwait.<br />
Tel: (00965) 4836100, Fax: (00965) 4815194<br />
Narayan R. Bhat<br />
Aridland Agriculture and Greenery Department<br />
Kuwait Institute for <strong>Scientific</strong> <strong>Research</strong><br />
P.O. Box 24885 Safat, 13109, Kuwait.<br />
E-mail: nbhat@safat.kisr.edu.kw<br />
Tel: (00965) 4836100, Fax: (00965) 4815194<br />
Harby Tawfiq<br />
Aridland Agriculture and Greenery Department<br />
Kuwait Institute for <strong>Scientific</strong> <strong>Research</strong><br />
P.O. Box 24885 Safat, 13109, Kuwait.<br />
Tel: (00965) 4836100, Fax: (00965) 4815194<br />
Abstract<br />
Revegetation and population enhancement <strong>of</strong> species are key elements <strong>of</strong> native<br />
species conservation. Dormancy is a well recognized survival adaptation in desert plant<br />
seeds to escape uncertainties <strong>of</strong> nature and hence, efficient seed dormancy breaking<br />
techniques are necessary for rapid enhancement in population in these species. Because<br />
efficient techniques for mass propagation <strong>of</strong> native plants are not presently available, largescale<br />
revegetation projects have not been very successful in Kuwait. Therefore,<br />
germination studies were undertaken in five native desert species (Cyperus conglomeratus,<br />
Citrullus colocynthis, Moltkiopsis ciliata, Astragalus siebierri and Phragmites australis).<br />
Seeds were subjected to various treatments: high temperature (50ºC) stratification,<br />
scarification, soaking in gibberellic acid or potassium nitrate solutions prior to sowing.<br />
Germination in Cyperus conglomeratus and Moltkiopsis ciliata was promoted by high<br />
temperature stratification. In Cyperus conglomerates, high temperature stratification for 60<br />
to 90 days increased the germination by 51 – 83 %; however, the effects <strong>of</strong> high<br />
temperature stratification on germination <strong>of</strong> Moltkiopsis ciliate in absolute terms were<br />
evident only when seeds were stratified for at least 120 days. In Cyperus conglomeratus