Germination Studies in Rhanterium epapposum Oliv

Abstract: Conservation of native plants are possible by their utilization in urban landscape, as indigenous plant species have evolved and adapted to the local harsh climatic conditions over the years and they are more likely to function adequately under the local climate as opposed to exotic plants. As Kuwait’s native plants are threatened in their natural habitat and have begun disappearing at an alarming rate, their use in landscape projects will help in conserving biodiversity and heritage. Dormancy is widespread among desert shrubs, with only a few species having non-dormant seeds. Effective dormancy breaking treatments are important to develop mass propagation techniques in native plants like Rhanterium epapposum. In this germination study, effects of dry heat (50°C) and/or various concentrations (500, 750 and 1000 ppm) of gibberellic acid (GA) on seed3 germination of Rhanterium epapposum were assessed. Treating the seeds with 750 ppm of GA was found to3 be effective for Rhanterium epapposum with 71 % of germination. The next best treatment combination (52%) was exposure to dry heat (50°C) for ten days followed by a treatment with 500 ppm GA for 24 hrs. 3 Key words: Urban landscape Greenery development Dormancy Germination study Conservation of native plants INTRODUCTION function adequately under the local climate as opposed to Kuwait has a typical desert climate with extreme their natural habitat and have begun disappearing at a