Conservation and Cultivation of Ferula jaeschkeana Vatke: A Species with Deep Complex Morphophysiological Dormancy

Abstract

Ferula jaeschkeana Vatke, an important medicinal plant of the Himalayan region, being threatened needs immediate conservation strategies. Keeping this in view studies on the germination of seeds and sprouting of vegetative propagules has been undertaken for the first time. At the time of dispersal, F. jaeschkeana seeds are dormant and have under-developed embryos. The aims of the present work were to determine the requirements for germination and overcoming dormancy and to characterize the type of seed dormancy. The seeds of F. jaeschkeana have deep complex morpho-physiological dormancy. Present study revealed that final germination percentage, mean daily germination, seed vigour index, germination index, germination rate and germination value were highest (53.3 %, 0.88, 3.67, 0.13, 0.88 and 1.02, respectively) when 200 ppm kinetin and dry stratification (60 days) were applied together. The decline in MGT up to 36.18 days and highest percentage survival (87.9 ± 7.08) were also observed in the same treatment. This treatment is thus recommended for promoting the germination process of F. jaeschkeana seeds. Maximum seed germination (62.0 ± 11.54 %) at 1 in. depth was found in seeds presoaked in kinetin (100 ppm) for 24 h in media of sand:soil (2:1). In case of root tuber cuttings, 500 ppm gibberellic acid showed significantly high sprouting (89.70 ± 0.78 and 69.14 ± 0.82 %, respectively) and rooting percentage (78.78 ± 1.13 and 55.56 ± 0.95 %, respectively) in case of both perennial and biennial plants. Likewise minimum time taken for sprouting was also observed in the same treatment in case of both perennial (10.0 ± 1 days) and biennial plants (11.33 ± 2.3 days).

The morphophysiological dormancy of Ferula ovina seeds is alleviated by low temperature and hydrogen peroxide

“…However, we believe that these studies have not shown a complete picture of dormancy in F. ovina. The existence of morphophysiological dormancy (MPD) is very frequent in the Apiaceae (Baskin et al, 1992(Baskin et al, , 1995(Baskin et al, , 2000Phartyal et al, 2009;Vandelook et al, 2008Vandelook et al, , 2009Scholten et al, 2009;Yaqoob and Nawchoo, 2015). Also in the case of closely related species of F. gummosa and F. asafoetida, there are reports of MPD (Otroshi et al, 2009;Rouhi et al, 2012).…”

Phytochemical Evaluation of Various Solvent Extracts of the Leaves, Fruits and Shoots of Ferula Jaeschkeana Vatke

“…Ferula jaeschkeana Vatke is mostly found in the sloppy regions of Kashmir Himalaya and is used in folk medicine for curing various ailments like chest pain, gastric problems, treatment of tumors, chronic wounds and ulcers [12][13][14]. So far no systematic research on comparative studies has been reported on the presence of phytochemicals in Ferula jaeschkeana.…”

Seed Germination Plasticity of Two Endangered Species of Ferula in the Context of Climate Change

“…Germination cues for F. assa-foetida and F. gummosa were complex, with dormancy mechanisms present to restrict germination until cold stratification or other requirements are fulfilled (Nadjafi et al 2006;Amooaghaie, 2009;Nowruzian et al 2016;Fasih and Tavakkol Afshari, 2018). The existence of morphophysiological dormancy (MPD) is very frequent in the Apiaceae (Baskin et al 1992(Baskin et al , 1995(Baskin et al , 2000Phartyal et al 2009;Vandelook et al 2008Vandelook et al , 2009Scholten et al 2009;Yaqoob and Nawchoo 2015;Fasih and Tavakkol Afshari 2018). Cold stratification temperature used in this experiment (4°C) provides an adequate moist chilling treatment.…”