EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
The European Journal of Environmental Sciences offers a mixture of original peer-reviewed research papers, which bring you some of the most exciting developments in environmental sciences in the broadest sense, often with an inter- or trans-disciplinary perspective, focused on the European problems. The journal also includes critical reviews on topical issues, and overviews of the status of environmental protection in particular regions or countries. The journal covers a broad range of topics, including direct or indirect interactions between abiotic or biotic components of the environment, interactions of environment with human society, or environmental sustainability.

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES, Vol 9 No 1 (2019), 47–52

Optimal scarification times for seeds of two Mediterranean orchids

Eirini Katsalirou, Argyrios Gerakis, Xenophon Haldas

DOI: https://doi.org/10.14712/23361964.2019.6
published online: 28. 06. 2019

abstract

A critical step during the in vitro sexual propagation of Mediterranean orchids is the treatment of seeds with a disinfecting solution thatalso serves to scarify the seeds. If the seeds are not properly disinfected, microorganisms grow within the culture vessel, thus reducingthe efficacy of the process in terms of the extra time and materials required. On the other hand, a long period of disinfection may damagethe embryo. The literature is inconclusive with respect to the proper combination of disinfectant strength and duration of the treatment. Theobjective of this research is to determine the optimal scarification times for two orchid species with thin and thick seed coats, respectively.Seeds of Anacamptis laxiflora (Lam.) and Himantoglossum robertianum (Loisel.) were treated with 0.5% NaClO solution for 5, 15, 25, 35, 45,55, 65, 75 and 85 minutes and sown in modified organic Malmgren medium. Logistic regression models were fitted to the results. We foundthat the longer the chemical treatment, the lower the percentage infection and higher the percentage germination, within the range oftimes tested. A chemical treatment of 85 minutes in 0.5% NaClO results in satisfactory percentage germination for both seeds with relativelypermeable seed coats such as A. laxiflora (Lam.) and those with relatively impermeable seed coats such as H. robertianum (Loisel.).

keywords: Anacamptis laxiflora (Lam.); Cephalonia; disinfection; Himantoglossum robertianum (Loisel.); in vitro propagation; Orchidaceae

Creative Commons License
Optimal scarification times for seeds of two Mediterranean orchids is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

210 x 297 mm
periodicity: 2 x per year
print price: 150 czk
ISSN: 1805-0174
E-ISSN: 2336-1964

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