Germination and Emergence of Wild Rhubarb (Rheum Ribes L.) Seeds in Vitro Culture Conditions

Abstract

Rheum ribes L. is a perennial wild plant that is of medical importance as flowers shoots and stalk can be consumed as vegetables. Due to their uncontrolled collection from their natural habitats, it is important to ensure the preservation and sustainability of these species that may be in danger of future extinction. In tissue culture techniques, in vitro micro-propagation studies with seed, in vitro optimum germination mechanism of the species should be known. This study was conducted to determine the in vitro germination and emergence of rhubarb seeds groups (seed tips were cut off or not). These groups were germinated in nutrient mediacombinations, including Murashige and Skoog (MS), Gamborg (B5), White (WH) and Schenk and Hildebrandt (SH) media with or without 200 mg/l gibberellic acid (GA3). As a result of the research, it was determined that the seeds of this species have less severe physiological dormancy and the seed-tip cut applications are more successful in terms of germination and emergence parameters. The highest germination rate (84%) was obtained from MS+200 mg l-1 GA3 nutrient medium, and the best emergence rate (44%) was obtained from WH+200 mg l-1 GA3 medium. © 2019, Centenary University. All rights reserved.