Ebony (Diospyros celebica Bakh.) is an endemic tree species of Sulawesi. Based on the World Conservation Monitoring Centre, it is one of the protected tree species and listed in IUCN Red List under the category of vulnerable. This species is well known for its beautiful and luxurious wood. In practice, natural forests dominated by Diospyros can be managed using the Indonesian Selective Logging System (TPTI). The purpose of this paper was to determine the cultivation and management techniques of ebony plants in order to establish ebony plantations and their conservation strategy. Data were collected based on primary field observation and review of previous research written by other authors. Direct field observations were conducted to collect data on the management of seed, scarification techniques, germination, and seedling growth increment (height and diameter), while secondary data were collected from Diospyros-related studies. From the study, it was identified that the best time to produce fruit for the species was between September - November, with a germination rate, was up to 94.67%. The recommended parent trees should be over 20 years old. Seedlings were weaned when having 2 - 4 leaves with compost enriched with NPK as the best planting media. The seedling can be moved to the planting location after the age of 8-9 months with weeding as the initial treatment. The optimum growth for nine-year-old Ebony trees may reach 6.5 m in height and 6.63 cm in diameter and this growth may still be seen for 12 years old trees that showed 9 m in height and 12.81 cm in diameter. Based on this optimum growth, it is prospective to establish ebony plantation and or enrichment planting as long as the silvicultural aspect described in this study was used as a basic guideline.

ABSTRAKKayu kuku (Pericopsis mooniana Thw.) mempunyai kulit benih yang keras dan menyebabkan sulitnya benih berkecambah, oleh karena itu diperlukan seleksi benih dan skarifikasi untuk mematahkan dormansi kulit benih, agar proses perkecambahannya lebih cepat serta menghasilkan daya berkecambah yang tinggi. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk meningkatkan nilai perkecambahan benih kayu kuku melalui seleksi benih berdasarkan warna dan teknik skarifikasi benih. Penelitian ini menggunakan rancangan acak lengkap (RAL) dengan analisis faktorial. Faktor pertama adalah warna benih (W0 = benih tidak diseleksi,W1 =benih berwarna kekuningan dan W2= benih berwarna kecokelatan). Faktor kedua adalah skarifikasi benih (S0=tanpa direndam, S1=direndam air dingin selama 24 jam, S2 = direndam air panas (80 0 C) selama 24 jam dan S3=direndam asam sulfat (0,1 M) selama 20 menit. Parameter yang diamati adalah waktu mulai berkecambah, kecepatan berkecambah dan daya berkecambah. Penelitian dilaksanakan di rumah kaca, Balai Penelitian Kehutanan Makassar. Penelitian, dilakukan selama dua bulan, yaitu bulan Juli -Agustus 2015. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa warna benih yang kekuningan dan kecokelatan dapat mempersingkat waktu berkecambah dan kecepatan kecambah dengan menggunakan teknik skarifikasi perendaman air panas pada suhu 80 0 C selama 24 jam dapat menghasilkan daya berkecambah sebesar 76%.Kata Kunci : benih, kayu kuku, perkecambahan, seleksi, skarifikasi

Nedun wood (Pericopsis mooniana) is one of the quality local wood species in the Wallacea region. The existence of kayu kuku in their natural habitat is vulnerable by overexploitation and habitat loss. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has declared kayu kuku as one of the endangered species. Tissue culture is one way to conserve genetic resources on micropropagation. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of seed storage methods on nedun seed germination using in-vitro propagation. There are three methods of storage, which are stored with pericarp at room temperature (T0), storage with pericarp removal at room temperature (T1), storage with pericarp removal in 100C (T2). The variables observed were germination rate, speed of germination, first day of rooted and sprouted, number of roots, length of root, and shoot. ANOVA analysis showed significantly different at shoot length. The duncant test results showed the highest shoot length at T2 (8.75 cm). The largest germination rate was found at T1with an average of 82% and the highest germination speed was T1 (12.23% NG/etmal).