Germination Ecology of Arundinaria alpina (K. Schum.) and Oxytenanthera abyssinica (A. Rich.) Munro Seeds: Indigenous Bamboo Species in Ethiopia

Abstract

Highland bamboo (Arundinaria alpina) and lowland bamboo (Oxytenanthera abyssinica) are indigenous to Ethiopia and endemic to Africa. Seeds of A. alpina were collected from Dawa Wereda (District), while O. abyssinica seeds were collected from Pawe and Sherkole Weredas. In this study, seed presowing treatments, effects of dry heat, moist heat, and light/dark treatments on the germination of seeds were tested. The averages were of 59,416 and 8,393 seeds contained within 1 kg of A. alpina and O. abyssinica seeds within 86 and 91% pure seeds, respectively. From 1 kg of pure seeds 37,301 and 7,168 seedlings are raised in the laboratory in their respective orders. The result revealed that control seeds of A. alpina and O. abyssinica showed the best germination of 73 and 98%. Germination of both dry and moist heat treatments of O. abyssinica seeds was significantly improved at 60 and 80 ∘ C. Unlike A. alpina seeds, seeds of O. abyssinica had better germination for light treatment compared to dark. For effective large scale plantation and raising of A. alpina and O. abyssinica seedlings from its seeds for laboratory, control seeds supply to necessary light source (for O. abyssinica seeds) is recommended.

Seed Germination and Seedling Growth of Dendrocalumus brandisii in vitro, and the Inhibitory Mechanism of Colchicine

“…The seed germination period of Oldeania alpine was reported to be 8 days, with the germination starting on the 4th day after sowing (Zhang et al, 2016 ). Seed germination was reported to start on the 7th and completed on the 17th day in Arundinaria alpina , and started on the 4th day and completed on the 9th day in Oxytenanthera abyssinica (Bahru et al, 2015 ). Seeds of D. brandisii achieved their highest germination rates on the 4th day and finished their germination in 21 days.…”

Provenance Variation on Early Survival Rate and Growth Performance ofOxytenanthera abyssinica(A. Rich.) Munro Seedlings at Green House: An Indigenous Lowland Bamboo Species in Ethiopia

“…A slightly higher survival rate of O. abyssinica seedlings at Pawe provenance (91%) than Sherkole provenance (90%) revealed that the seed sources further contributed to the successful survival rate of seedlings at green house. Former research conducted by [11] assured that Pawe provenance has better seed germination and seed weight than Sherkole provenance. Nevertheless, both provenances further have higher potential in producing viable and vigour seeds [12].…”

“…Raising at Laboratory. Untreated O. abyssinica seeds, which have best germination percentage, were sowed at laboratory [11] on Petri-dishes. The filter paper was kept moist with distilled water as much as possible throughout the entire experimental period.…”

“…Once seeds were germinated, seeds were transplanted to laboratory plastic Trays (hereafter referred to as Trays), where sand served as germination medium. A seed was considered as germinated when the radicle was penetrated out from the seed coat and clearly appeared visually [11,12].…”

“…Although Bamboo has higher biomass production, shorter rotation and fastest growing behavior, agricultural expansion and/or shifting cultivation, and construction and high fuel wood demand, human settlement, and uncontrolled or accidental forest fire are the major bottlenecks for Bamboo resource in Ethiopia. Other factors include limited availability and poor storage of seeds [11,12] and seedlings, mass flowering and death of Bamboo, and longer flowering intervals and unpredictable flowering time [13]. In the same way, the traditional management system in private Bamboo plantation and even mismanagement of community and/or state owned forests further aggravate the problem of resource depletion.…”