Vetiver grass (Vetiveriazizanioides L.) is widely used for
soil and water conservation, and land management. In practice, all vetiver
seedlings are propagated via ramets or tillers, which cannot meet the market
demand and would also destroy the original habitat. Mostvetiver genotypes flower but do not produce seeds. A wild ecotype
of vetiver grass originated in southern China is fertile, but the rate of seed
germination is very low. This study aimed to develop a novel method to improve
its seed germination and seedling establishment. In the field, the
inflorescences of wild vetiver were wrapped using a transparent plastic bag
with a pot containing wet soils. The effects of inflorescence bagging and Tween
80 application on seed germination and seedling growth were examined. The
results showed that seed development was characterized by low seed setting rate
(19.2%), uneven maturity time, easy shedding (more than 95% of spikelets shed
off 20 days after flowering), therefore difficult harvest of viable seeds.
Bagging the inflorescence with moist soils in pot ensured the mature seeds
falling onto the nursery soil surface and absorbing water for germination while
the immature seeds continued to grow on the inflorescence. Bigging not only
improved seed development and maturity, saved the procedure of seed collection
and storage, but also provided a humid micro-environment for seed germination
and seedling growth. Tween 80 as a surfactant promoted seed water absorption,
germination and seedling growth. This simple and novel method has integrated
the procedures of seed collection, storage, germination and seedling
establishment, and enables the productionof a large number of healthy seedlings. The possible reasons for the degeneration and
disappearance of the original population were also discussed from the
perspective of the disadvantages of vetiver propagation.
References
[1]
Donjadee, S. and Tingsanchali, T. (2012) Reduction of Runoff and Soil Loss over Steep Slopes by Using Vetiver Hedgerow Systems. Paddy and Water Environment, 11, 573-581. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10333-012-0350-2
[2]
Truong, P. and Loch, R. (2004) Vetiver System for Erosion and Sediment Control. Proceedings of the 13th International Soil Conservation Organisation Conference, Brisbane, July 2004, 1-6.
[3]
Truong, P.N.V. (1994) Vetiver Grass, Its Potential in the Stabilisation and Rehabilitation of Degraded Saline Land. In: Squires, V.R. and Ayoub, A.T., Eds., Halophytes as a Resource for Livestock and for Rehabilitation of Degraded Lands, Vol. 32, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, 293-296.
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-0818-8_31
[4]
Truong, P., Van, T.T. and Pinners, E. (2008) Vetiver System Applications Technical Reference Manual. 2nd Edition, The Vetiver Network International, 78-89.
[5]
Tian, W.T., Hu, W.Y., Li, J. and Gao, Z.L. (2008) The Status of Soil and Water Loss and Analysis of Countermeasures in China. Research of Soil and Water Conservation, 15, 204-209. (In Chinese)
[6]
Ma, P., Yang, H. and Ma, X.R. (2011) Progress in Research and Utilization of Vetiveriazi Zanioides. Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology, 13, 88-93. (In Chinese)
[7]
Yang, B.B., P, X.H. and Ma, Z.R. (2007) Study on Tissue Culture of Vetiver Grass. Acta Prataculturae Sinica, 16, 93-99. (In Chinese)
[8]
Prasertsongskun, S. (2004) Isolation and Culture of Suspension Protoplasts of Vetiver. Songklanakarin Journal of Science and Technology, 26, 411-416.
[9]
Wang, D., Cao, Y.N., Ma, L., Chen, X.W., Zhang, F. and Chen, J.B. (2019) Study on Seedling Regeneration from Axillary Buds of Stem Nodes of Vetiveria zizanioides in Vitro. Molecular Plant Breeding, 17, 1313-1319. (In Chinese)
[10]
Parihar, S., Mal, B., Shankar, V. and Kak, A. (1998) Seed Production and Germination in Vetiver Grass (Vetiveria zizanioides). Tropical Grasslands, 32, 173-177. (In Chinese)
[11]
Liu, J.X., Zhang, Y. and Li, X.D. (2012) Effect of GA3 Treatments on Seed Germination Dynamics of Natural Vetiver Grass in Western Guangdong Province. Chinese Journal of Tropical Crops, 33, 1272-1275. (In Chinese)
[12]
Yao, C., Zhu, G.C. and Liu, H. (2007) Study on Reproduction from Seed Born Seedling of Vetiver Grass. Journal of Yangtze University (Nat Sci Edit), 4, 13-15, 26. (In Chinese)
[13]
Leupin, R.E., Leupin, M., Ehret, C., Erismann, K.H. and Witholt, B. (2000) Compact Callus Induction and Plant Regeneration of a Non-Flowering Vetiver from Java. Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture, 62, 115-123.
https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1026589500827
[14]
Xia, H.P. and Ao, D.X. (1998) Wild Vetiver Grass Distributed in China and Its Protection and Taxonomic Problems. Biodiversity conservation in China, 6, 292-297. (In Chinese)
[15]
Liu, J.X. and Chen, Y. (2002) Issues of Utilization and Protection for Native Vetiver Grass. Pratacultural Science, 19, 13-16. (In Chinese)
[16]
Xia, H.P. and Liu, S.Z. (2003) Study on Screening for Excellent Ecotypes of Vetiveria Zizanioides. Acta Prataculturae Sinica, 12, 97-105. (In Chinese)
[17]
Liu, W.G., Liu, J.X., Yao, M.L. and Ma, Q.F. (2016) Salt Tolerance of a Wild Ecotype of Vetiver Grass (Vetiveria zizanioides L.) in Southern China. Botanical Studies, 57, Article No. 27. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40529-016-0142-x
[18]
Zhong, H.X., Dong, H., Zhou, J.H. and Liang, H.M. (1993) Effects of Tween-80 on the Germination and Some Physiological and Biochemical Characters of Barley Seeds. Acta Agrinomica Sinica, 19, 376-379. (In Chinese)
[19]
Liu, J.X., Li, W.S. and Li, H.Y. (2005) A Primary Report on Biological Characteristics and Insect Pest of Seeding Reproductive Vetiver Grass. Pratacultural Science, 22 108-111. (In Chinese)
[20]
Office of the Royal Development Projects (BOARD) (2000) Manual of the International Training Course on the Vetiver System. Organized by the Office of the Royal Development Projects Board in Cooperation with the Chaipattana Foundation with Fund Donated by the Heineken Breweries Co. Ltd., Bangkok, Thailand, 19-30 November 2000.
[21]
Moula, G. and Rahman, S. (2009) Seed Germination Potential of Vetiver Grass (Vetiveria zizanioides L. Nash). Pakistan Journal of Agricultural Research, 22, 97-100.
[22]
Simpson, G.M. (2007) Seed Dormancy in Grasses. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
[23]
Dunaeva, M., Bocharova, M., Aksenova, L. and Klyachko, N. (1991) Effect of Tween-80 on Moisture-Content of Germinating Wheat Seeds. Soviet Plant Physiology, 38, 115-120.
[24]
Lucie, L.A., Stéphanie, G., Fabienne, C., Olivier, C., Fran?ois, L.J., Corinne, R.M., Noémie, D., Gabrielle, M.A., Ivan, L., Louis, C. and Nicolas, D. (2018) Dispersed Phase Volume Fraction, Weak Acids and Tween 80 in a Model Emulsion: Effect on the Germination and Growth of Bacillus Weihenstephanensis KBAB4 Spores. Food Research International, 109, 288-297. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2018.04.016
[25]
Liu, J.G. and Xue, J.H. (2009) Effects of Cutting on Early-Stage Plant Community Characteristics of Slope Land Protected by Vetiveria zizanioides (L.). Acta Agrestia Sinica, 17, 520-526. (In Chinese)
[26]
Liu, J.G., Liu, H.X., Chen, W.P., Gao, W.L. and Bian, X.M. (2007) Impacts of Clipping on the Growth of Vetiveria zizanioides. Grassland and Turf, No. 4, 82-86. (In Chinese)
[27]
Xia, H.P., Wang, M.Z. and Xu, L.Y. (2015) Is Vetiver Grass Planted in China an Invasive Alien Species and Becoming a Weed? Chinese Journal of Ecology, 34, 2327-2332. (In Chinese)
[28]
Li, Z.Y. and Xie, Y. (2002) Invasive Alien Species in China. China Forestry Press, Beijing.
