Assessment of the germination potential of Myrtus communis (L.) based on seed size

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21750/REFOR.17.02.113

Keywords:

Bioconservation, germination behavior, Myrtaceae, seed biometry, Reforestation

Abstract

The woody fodder species Myrtus communis (L.) is commonly found in the forested areas of northeastern Algeria, thus helping to alleviate the goat husbandry shortage during the summer. This study aims to conserve the species and counteract its declining populations due to various biotic and abiotic factors. A specific objective of this study is to assess the correlation between seed size and germination vigor in M. communis, as well as emergence of seedlings. A sample of 15 M. communis individuals was selected, and 500 fruits were randomly collected in the vegetation of Jijel National Park (Jijel, northeast Algeria). One month after post-ripening, when fruit moisture content reached 25.2%, seeds were manually extracted from the fruits and categorized into three sizes (large, medium, and small). Then, 100 leaves, 100 intact fruits, and 100 seeds from each size category were measured and weighed. Various morphological characteristics were recorded, including leaf and fruit length and width, pulp weight, seed number, pulp-to-seed ratio, seed size, and moisture content. Seed germination and initial seedling growth were monitored weekly.  Seeds of M. communis ranged in weight from 0.03 to 0.18 grams. In comparison with medium (1.5%) and small (0%) seeds, large seeds showed significantly higher germination rates (93%) after three weeks of sowing. Moreover, seedlings originating from large seeds grew vigorously, reaching a length of 10.9 cm. According to our findings, seed size in M. communis can affect seed germination and high-quality seedling establishment.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

  • Lahouaria Mounia Mansouri, University of Batna 2

    Department of Ecology and Environment

  • Abdenour Kheloufi, University of Batna 2

    University of Batna 2

  • Rabah Belatreche, University of Batna 2

    Department of Ecology and Environment

References

Abd El Hameed NS (2018) Effect of indole butyric acid (IBA), cutting type and planting date on cuttings rooting of Myrtus communis. The Middle East Journal 7(3): 1135-1145.

Aronne G, Russo D (1997) Carnivorous mammals as seed dispersers of Myrtus communis (Myrtaceae) in the Mediterranean shrublands. Plant Biosyst 131(3): 189-195. https://doi.org/10.1080/11263504.1997.10654181

Benvenuti S Macchia M (2001) Dormancy and germination in Myrtus communis L. seeds. Agr Med 131: 77-81.

Bounar R, Rebbas K, Djellouli Y, Gharzouli R, Abbad A (2016) Analyse de la diversité floristique du parc national de Taza (Algérie). Colloque international « Espèces végétales et microbiennes décrites en Algérie de 1962 à 2010 », September 2016, Oran, Algérie.

Bouzabata A, Casanova J, Bighelli A, Cavaleiro C, Salgueiro L and Tomi F (2016) The genus Myrtus L. in Algeria: composition and biological aspects of essential oils from M. communis and M. nivellei: a review. Chem Biodivers 13(6): 672-680. https://doi.org/10.1002/cbdv.201500342

Browicz K (1980) Distribution and variability of Clematis cirrhosa L. and Myrtus communis L. in the eastern Mediterranean. Arboretum Kórnickie 25: 23-36.

Chacón P, Bustamante RO, Henríquez C (1998) The effect of seed size on germination and seedling growth of Cryptocarya alba (Lauraceae) in Chile. Revista Chilena de Historia Natural 71(2): 189-197.

DGF (2010) Evaluation des ressources forestières mondiales. Rapport national de la FAO sur les forêts algériennes. Rome, Direction générale des forêts, 57p.

Domic AI, Capriles JM, Camilo GR (2020) Evaluating the fitness effects of seed size and maternal tree size on Polylepis tomentella (Rosaceae) seed germination and seedling performance. J Trop Ecol 36(3): 115-122. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0266467420000061

Easton L C, Kleindorfer S (2008) Interaction effects of seed mass and temperature on germination in Australian species of Frankenia (Frankeniaceae). Folia Geobot 43(4): 383-396. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12224-008-9021-x

Ellis RH (1992) Seed and seedling vigour in relation to crop growth and yield. Plant Growth Regul 11(3): 249-255. https://doi.org/10.1007/bf00024563

Fenner MK, Fenner M and Thompson K (2005) The ecology of seeds. Cambridge University Press, 260 pp. https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcj016

Finch-Savage WE (2020) Influence of seed quality on crop establishment, growth, and yield. In Seed Quality (pp. 361-384). CRC Press. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003075226-11

Foster S, Janson CH (1985) The relationship between seed size and establishment conditions in tropical woody plants. Ecology 66(3): 773-780. https://doi.org/10.2307/1940538

Franceschini P (2016) Myrtus communis L. en Corse et en Méditerranée : de sa composition chimique jusqu’à ses utilisations thérapeutiques. Thèse de Doctorat en Sciences pharmaceutiques. Université Victor Segalen Bordeaux 2, France, 142 p.

Heydecker W (1972) Vigour. In Viability of seeds (pp. 209-252). Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-5685-8_8

Huang Z, Liu S, Bradford KJ, Huxman TE, Venable DL (2016) The contribution of germination functional traits to population dynamics of a desert plant community. Ecology 97(1): 250-261. https://doi.org/10.1890/15-0744.1

ISTA (2005) International rules for seed testing. International Seed Testing Association. Bassersdorf, Switzerland. https://doi.org/10.15258/istarules.2015.i

Kaya DA, Ghica MV, Dănilă E, Öztürk Ş, Türkmen M, Albu Kaya MG, Dinu-Pîrvu CE (2020) Selection of optimal operating conditions for extraction of Myrtus communis L. essential oil by the steam distillation method. Molecules 25(10): 2399. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25102399

Kheloufi A, Boukhatem FZ, Mansouri LM, Djelilate M (2019) Maximizing seed germination in five species of the genus Acacia (Fabaceae Mimosaceae). Reforesta 7: 15-23. https://doi.org/10.21750/refor.7.02.64

Kheloufi A, Mansouri L, Aziz N, Sahnoune M, Boukemiche S, Ababsa B (2018) Breaking seed coat dormancy of six tree species. Reforesta 5: 4-14. https://doi.org/10.21750/refor.5.02.48

Khosh-Khui M, Bassiri A (1976 Physical dormancy in myrtle seed. Scientia Horticulturae 5(4):363-366. https://doi.org/10.1016/0304-4238(76)90132-1

Khurana EKTA, Singh JS (2001) Ecology of seed and seedling growth for conservation and restoration of tropical dry forest: a review. Environ Conserv 28(1): 39-52. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0376892901000042

Kordali S, Usanmaz A, Cakir A, Komaki A, Ercisli S (2016) Antifungal and herbicidal effects of fruit essential oils of four Myrtus communis genotypes. Chem Biodivers 13(1): 77-84. https://doi.org/10.1002/cbdv.201500018

Mahmoudvand H, Fallahi S, Mahmoudvand H, Shakibaie M, Harandi MF, Dezaki ES (2016) Efficacy of Myrtus communis L. to inactivate the hydatid cyst protoscoleces. J Invest Surg 29(3): 137-143. https://doi.org/10.3109/08941939.2015.1088601

Mebirouk-Boudechiche L, Cherif M, Boudechiche L, Sammar F (2014) Teneurs en composés primaires et secondaires des feuilles d’arbustes fourragers de la région humide d’Algérie. Revue de Médecine Vétérinaire 165(11): 344-352.

Migliore J, Baumel A, Juin M, Médail F (2012) From Mediterranean shores to central Saharan mountains: Key phylogeographical insights from the genus Myrtus. J Biogeogr 39: 942-956. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2699.2011.02646.x

Mtambalika K, Munthali C, Gondwe D, Missanjo E (2014) Effect of seed size of Afzelia quanzensis on germination and seedling growth. International Journal of Forestry Research 1-5. https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/384565

Nadi R, Heidari M, Ghorbani A (2012) Effect of chemical scarification on seed germination of Myrtus communis L. National Congress of Medicinal Plants, May 2012, Kish, Iran. 149 pp.

Perea R, Fernandes GW, Dirzo R (2020) Early plant development depends on embryo damage location: the role of seed size in partial seed predation. Oikos 129(3): 320-330. https://doi.org/10.1111/oik.06912

Rasooli I, Moosavi ML, Rezaee MB, Jaimand K (2002) Susceptibility of microorganisms to Myrtus communis L. essential oil and its chemical composition. J Agr Sci Tech-Iran 4: 127-133.

Rubio de Casas R, Willis CG, Pearse WD, Baskin CC, Baskin JM, Cavender‐Bares J (2017) Global biogeography of seed dormancy is determined by seasonality and seed size: a case study in the legumes. New Phytol 214(4): 1527-1536. https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.14498

Sisay M, Gashaw T (2017) Ethnobotanical, ethnopharmacological, and phytochemical studies of Myrtus communis Linn: A popular herb in Unani system of medicine. Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine 22(4): 1035-1043. https://doi.org/10.1177/2156587217718958

Tibaoui S, Hajji H, Smeti S, Mekki I, Essid I, Atti N (2020) Effects of distillated myrtle (Myrtus communis L.) leaves’ intake on cull ewes’ body weight gain, carcass composition and meat quality. Span J Agric Res 18(4): 6. https://doi.org/10.5424/sjar/2020184-16873

Traveset A, Riera N, Mas RE (2001) Ecology of fruit-colour polymorphism in Myrtus communis and differential effects of birds and mammals on seed germination and seedling growth. J Ecol 89: 749-760. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.0022-0477.2001.00585.x

Tumpa K, Vidaković A, Drvodelić D, Šango M, Idžojtić M, Perković I, Poljak I (2021) The Effect of Seed Size on Germination and Seedling Growth in Sweet Chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.). Forest 12(7): 858. https://doi.org/10.3390/f12070858

Downloads

Published

2024-06-29

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

“Assessment of the Germination Potential of Myrtus Communis (L.) Based on Seed Size”. REFORESTA, no. 17 (June 29, 2024): 10–17. Accessed November 10, 2024. https://journal.reforestationchallenges.org/index.php/REFOR/article/view/219.

Most read articles by the same author(s)