THE NEW PLANTSMAN vouume canta pecan 998 First Words. 195 New to cultivation: The genus Cornukaempferia in Thailand JOHN MOOD & KAI LARSEN 196 Notes from RHS nomenclature panel: The renaming of Ilex verticillata males to ‘Jim Dandy’ and ‘Southern Gentleman’ ‘SUSYN ANDREWS 206 Miscellaneous Note 3: Cape heaths crossed with European species DAV MecLINTOCK, 207 The cultivated species of Saxifraga section Irregulares MARK TEBBITT 208 A study on seed germination of the eycad, Dioon merolae (Zamiaceae) MIGUEL A. PEREZ-FARRERA, ANDREW P. VOVIDES & JOSE G. ALVAREZ MOCTEZUMA 214 The origin of the Peloric Sinningia MELENE CITERNE AND QUENTIN C8. CRONK. 219 Comment: Evergreens for the garden? ALUN RES 223 Discovering more caudiciform plants: 3 ANTHONY RODRIGUEZ 227 Anew hybrid Willow ROD PARFITT 243 ‘itor Sabina Knees a Koya Botan: Garden, Ivereth Row The New Pansman spl quatery linburgh EHS SUR Wy the Royal Hora Soy Eos 80 Vincent Sar, London SIP 2PE Gennlnt Christopher Brill tonal Anthony Lord The ie pat oF ech rchume awed in March Pond David Roger Spencer Annet subciton £25 (Bx ses} Stephen Sponbert "29 ouside the Bish es To subscribe, wre so: The New Platman ype by $X Composing DTP, Raykigh, Essex 1 Bo 38 Aahiond Ket TN2S 6PR Primed by The Frary Press, Dorchester, Dorset, Opinions expressed in his jooral do noe (©The Royal Horticultural Society, 1999 necessarily reflect thse ofthe Faitors ‘or of ehe Royal Horticultural Society BIN SD-AI86aia! A study on seed germination of the Cycad, Dioon merolae (Zamiaceae) MIGUEL A. PEREZ-FARRERA, ANDREW P. VOVIDES AND JOSE G. ALVAREZ MOCTEZUMA, BSTRACT. Dioon merolae de Luca Sabato and Vazg.Torres an endemic species from Chiapas and Oaxaca is endangered. Seeds of D. merolae were treated removing the sarcotesta, —scarifed mechanically and soaked in GA, (1000 ppm) for 0,24, 48 and 72 hours. tion percentage was 83.3% over an average of 104 days (germi- nation value = 0.65) after exposure of 24 hours GAy, The average number of days for germina- tion was reduced to 80 when seeds were not exposed to GA, showing a significant difference in germination percentage, and rate (germina~ tion value = 0.83) The effect of gibberellic acid at this concentration appears not to enhance the germination of D. merolae seeds. INTRODUCTION Cycads are ancient palm-like gymnosperms (Scagel et al., 1980; Vovides and Peters, 1987}, ‘There are approximately 180-200 species of eyeads worldwide (Jones, 1993; Norstog. 8 Nicholls, 1997) and in Mexico about 40 species have been reported of which 80% are endemic (Vovides, 1990, 1991, 1991a, Vovides & Iglesias, 1994) which makes Mexico an important centre for cycad diversity in the neatropics, Dioom merolae is endemic +o Chiapas (De Luca etal, 1981; Sabato & De Luca, 1985) but has recently been reported from Oaxaca. It is known as “espadana” or “Nimalari” (Nima leaf, lari: feather, in the native Chiapan lan- guage] and it plays a very important role during the Santa Cruz festivity in Suchiapa, Chiapas, ‘where leaves are used as altar decoration ducing the religious rituals (Becerra, 1985; Manguen & Montesino, 1991; Pérez & Garza, 1992) However, this species is endangered due to habitat destruction such as fires caused by farmers and ranchers, for agricultural expan. sion and cattle grazing. legal collection takes its toll by plants being dug-up in their thou- sands causing devastation of the populations (Wovides, 1988; Pérez & Garza, 1992), Population recovery is aggravated dite to spo- radic cone production and slow and erratic seed germination which is common to. several species of cyeads (Dehgan, 1983; Dehgan & Schutzman, 1983, 1989; Dehgan 8 Almira, 1993);-also the scarcity of seeds has been responsible for the lack experimental research (Dehgan, 1983; Dehgan & Schutzman, 1983) ‘The purpose of this research was to determine if this species showed germination problems and to determine optimum germination under nursery conditions. This species and other Mexican cycad. species such as Zamia fur furacea L. fil, Ceratozamia norstogti Stevenson, G. mexicana Brongn. and Dior edule Lindl. are being cultivated in registered peasant sus- tainable management nurseries and itis hoped that seeds and seedlings will soon be commer- cially available (Vovides & Iglesias, 1994; Pérez-Farrera & Vovides, 1997). MATERIAL AND METHODS Fresh seeds of D. merolae were obtained in March 1993, collected in the central depression ‘of Chiapas from a natural population as fol- lows: from the female cone in sit one seed was removed from each of basal, middle and apicalDison merle, mature feral plant with cones megasporophylls to determine if the embryo was fully developed. If the embryo was fully mature, the cone was collected according to Vovides (1992), The sarcotesta was removed manually and seeds subjected to a flotation test to determine their viability before starting the experiment. Floating seeds were discarded. The seeds were subsequently divided into 2 treat- ments; the first group (treatment) was scarified mechanically then soaked in 1000 ppm GA, for 0 (quick dip), 24, 48, and 72 hours; the second |control) was not exposed to any treatment, prior to sowing, in sand (0.80 mm). The seeds were planted 20 per container for each of 3 replicates per treatment and placed at random under intermittent mist-propagation. The num her of germinated seeds was determined daily, based upon coleorhiza appearance. The percentage of germination data was recorded every 8 days during 4 months and ger- mination value (GV) which combined rate and total germination, was calculated according to Coabator (1962). Statistical analysis of the results were done using ANOVA and Tuckey's multiple range test. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The three cones collected of D. merolae, pre sented a high viability 95.33%, 98.14% and 86,89 % (Table 1). These results showed that these seeds had fully developed embryos. Tuckey’s multiple range test was used to detect differences in germination between treat- ments. The 24 hours treatment showed the highest germination percentage of 26.7% after 32 days, while the control did not germinate Seeds not exposed to GA, (0 hours) treatment erminated after 64 days, with 61.7%, whereas the control gave 16.7% and all other groups216 THE NEW PLANTSMAN DECEMBER 1999 Table 1. Comparison of % viable to non-viable 'D. merolae seeds per cone collected, (CONE A BC DE 1 107 192 95.3% 5 4.7% 2 107 105 98% «2 1.9% 3 122 106 86.9% 16 13.1% A) number of seeds per cone, B) number of viable seeds, C) Percentage of viable seeds, D) number of non-viable seeds, E) Percentage of non-viable seeds. showed <61.7% 96 days after treatment. The 0 hours treatment group, showed 83.3% germi nation, and the control group 61.7% 120 days after tweatment, see Figs 34), and Table 2. The rate of germination and germination values showed senificant differences between the treatments (F = 2.8, Pc0.05, 4d). These dilferences were between groups of seed trea rents exposed t0 0 hours GA, and 72 GA, and Ghours GA, with the control roup (Table 3). ‘The highest percentage of germination (83.33%) was shown for 0 hours treatment GA, over an average of 80 days (GV = 0.83) Treatments of 24, 48 and 72 hours GA,s howed 83.3%, 81.7% and 66.7% germination over an average of 104, 104 and 88 days (GV = 0.65, (462, and 0.47) respectively. The control group showed a germination percentage of 76.7% over. an average of 104 days (GV = 0.52) (Tables 3 and 4) Seed viability percentage per cone collected (93.3%, 98.1% and 86.9%) was high in com- parison with the results of Palacios (1989), who reported 25% seed viability. Also geemination percentage of non-treated seed (76.7%) with a gexmination time of 104 days was high in com parison to results of Palacios (1989), who reported a germination time of 8 months for seed from cwo cones collected in Jiqupilas, Chiapas. This low peccentage of seed viability and long germination time reported by Palacios appears to be due to immarure embryos at the time of seed collection. Based upon our results, itis apparent chat ‘Table 2. Percent germination of Dioow morolae followed by searifeation and soaking in 1000 pa GA, for different cies (Germination (6) after ‘64 days. 96 days 120 days Treatment (eime) 32 days (0 Hours 24 Hours 48 Hours §.53be 48.3506 80h $1.66 Hours 18.33ab 41.67) 66.67 66.678 Control Oe 16672 61.67 76.665 18.33 61.67 S6.67ab 88.338 78.3340 88.338 83.338 Mean separation by Tuckey’s multiple range rest, 5% level 60 seeds per treatment {germination of this species is controlled by the sclerocesta, Better results were shown by seeds that were mechanically scarified and not exposed to gibberellic acid (Figs. 1 and 2). However, these results appear to contrast with those of Debgan (1983) and Dehgan & Almira (1993), who reported that several species of Dioon, Macrozamia, Lepidozamia as well as Zamia loddigesii Mig. and Z. fischeri Mig. were among those that germinate without diffculey. Smith (1978), reported that the rate and per- ‘centage of germination in Zamia integrifolia ‘could be improved significantly by seed scarf cation, He reported a germination time of up to a year or more which could be reduced to 1 or 3 months under greenhouse conditions after ‘leaning and scarifcation. [Table 3, Peak value (PV) and Germination value (GY) of Dioon merolae seeds after 1000 ppm GA, treatment Treatments PV GV Tuckey’s range (for PV & GV) OHous 111 0.83 a 24Hours «0.91 0.65 ab 48 Hours 0.30 0.62, ab 7Hous 0.77 0476 b Control 75. 052 ‘Mean separation by Tuckey’s multiple range test, level; 60 seeds per 5% treatment. Peak Value = PV. Germination value = GV’The effect of 1000 ppm gibberellic acid on germination of D. merolae seeds with differ ent exposure times appears to be ne Germination appeared +0 be best in seeds thar were not exposed co gibberellic acid (Figs Dehgan and Johnson (1983), who reported that gibberellic acid could significantly improve the germination of Zamria floridana seeds. Dehgan and Schutzman (1983), pointed out that germ: nation of Z, furfuracea seeds could be improved by exposure of seeds to concentrated sulphuric acid for 15 minutes followed by a gibberellic acid (1000 ppm) soak for 24 hours. However, Dehgan and Schutzman (1989) stated that it was possible that, at a given concentration or ‘exposure time, the effect of GA, on the activa tion of enzymes may be negative Based on the trend indicated by the results, optimum germination value occurs when scari 1 and 2) though this contrasts with fied D. merolae seeds are not exposed to gib- berellic acid. Gibberellic acid treatments appear to have had negative effects on germination of D. merolae during these trials. However, the rate and percentage of germination can be sig. Table 4. Peak Value (PV), Mean daily germina tion (MDG) and Germination value (GV) of Dioom merolae seeds after 1000 ppm GA, Treatments PV MDG GV 72 Hours 077056 48 Hours 090068 (0.62 24 Hours ost 070065 0 Hours Ll 074 083 Control O75 064 0.52 oon meatee —<) germinating sed Ue dys Ser sowing (2) seeding wth expanded let 180 aye ster rowing, note tached seed cantly improved by manual mechanical scarifi- cation of the seeds. Seeds of this species must be collected when the embryo is fully developed, (2 year old female cones) if not, the germination time will be considerably long REFERENCES BECERRA, MEE. (1985). Nombres geograficos indigenas de Chiapas. 3 ed. INI. Mexico, DF. pp. 211, 219. CZABATOR, FJ. (1962). Germination value an index combining seed and completeness of pine seed germination. 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