Assessing the storage potential of Australian rainforest seeds: a decision-making key to aid rapid conservation

Seed banking of rainforest species is hindered by lack of knowledge as to which species are tolerant of desiccation and freezing. We assessed 313 Australian rainforest species for seed banking suitability by comparing the germination percentage of fresh seeds to seeds dried at 15% RH and seeds stored at −20 °C after drying. We then compared desiccation responses to environmental, habit, fruit and seed characteristics to identify the most useful predictors of desiccation sensitivity. Of 162 species with ≥ 50% initial germination, 22% were sensitive to desiccation, 64% were tolerant and 10% were partially tolerant; the responses of 4% were uncertain. Of 107 desiccation tolerant species tested for response to freezing, 24% were freezing sensitive or short-lived in storage at −20 °C. Median values for fresh seed moisture content (SMC), oven dry weight (DW) and the likelihood of desiccation sensitivity (PD-S) were significantly greater for desiccation sensitive than desiccation tolerant seeds. Ninety-four to 97% of seeds with SMC < 29%, DW < 20 mg or PD-S < 0.01 were desiccation tolerant. Ordinal logistic regression of desiccation response against environmental, habit, fruit and seed characteristics indicated that the likelihood of desiccation sensitivity was significantly increased by a tree habit, fleshy fruit, increasing fresh SMC and increasing PD-S. The responses observed in this study were combined with earlier studies to develop a simple decision key to aid prediction of desiccation responses in untested rainforest species.

Jacaranda mimosifolia (jacaranda).

J. mimosifolia is a medium-large, deciduous tree, up to 20 m in height, with an attractive spreading crown. The species is native to Argentina and Brazil, but has been introduced as an ornamental to many parts of the tropics. J. mimosifolia grows best in highland areas up to 2400 m with an annual rainfall of 900-1300 mm. It grows well on well-drained sandy loam soils, although it will survive on poorer shallow soils. The species does not tolerate waterlogged or clay soils. It is a deep-rooted competitive tree, so few plants or crops can grow beneath it. J. mimosifolia is most well-known for the clusters of striking bell-shaped, blue-violet flowers that are produced during the dry season and which are characteristic of many cities in tropical and sub-tropical countries. J. mimosifolia can be established from either seed or cuttings. Fresh seed has a germination capacity of 50-92% and generally no seed pre-treatment is required. The trees need considerable care during the first two years, requiring weeding, regular watering and staking until well established. They can be fast growing on good sites achieving 3 m per year during the first two years and 1 m per year in subsequent years. Established trees respond well to light coppicing. If used as an ornamental, an open environment or large spacing is required for this light-demanding species with its wide canopy.

A Surviving Child from Acute Liver Failure after an Ingestion of Cassia occidentalis Seeds

Cassia occidentalis toxicity is thought to be uncommon; however, several cases have been described with acute hepatomyoencephalopathy with a high-mortality rate. We report a previously healthy, 2-year-old girl who developed acute liver failure after fresh seed ingestion. Without a specific antidote, we decided to implement supportive measures and medications including lactulose, sodium benzoate and N-acetylcysteine. The patient also experienced with cardiogenic shock and transient distal renal tubular acidosis, which were all spontaneously resolved. The liver chemistries returned to normal 3 months after the ingestion, without receiving liver assisted device or liver transplantation.

PENGARUH JARAK TANAM TERHADAP PERTUMBUHAN DAN HASIL TANAMAN KACANG TANAH (Arachis hipogaea L.)

This research aims at investigating the influence of planting distance towards growth and yield of peanut and optimal planting distance that can raise the growth of peanut seeds. The method used was Randomized Block Design with treatment as follows: J1 = planting distance 10 cm x 15 cm, J 2 = planting distance 15 cm x 15 cm, J 3 = planting distance 10 cm x 20 cm 4, J = planting distance 15 cm x 20 cm, J 5 planting distance = 10 cm x 30 cm, J 6 = 15 cm x 30 cm. Observation Variables in this study are the height of the plant, a number of leaves, leaf area, leaf area index, Podsnumber/Tan, pods weight/Tan, Seedsnumber /Tan, Fresh Seed Weight/Ha, Dry Seed Weight/Tan, heavy Seed dry/Ha, Fresh maximal yield and residues weight/Tan, dry maximal yield and residue/Ha. The result of this experiment found that the use of distance planting can give a good influence on each variable observation, both on the observation of growth as well as on the yield of peanut.

PENGARUH DOSIS PUPUK KANDANG SAPI DAN ZA TERHADAP PERTUMBUHAN BIBIT CACAO (THEOBROMA CACAO L.)

Both organic and inorganic fertilization determines the growth of the cocoa seed. The correct dose of cow manure and ZA (as a source of N) can improve the growth of the cocoa seed. This pot test was conducted in farmer land in Banjar of Selanbawak Kaja Agriculture Department, Selanbawak Village, Marga Sub district, Tabanan Regency, ± 250 m dpl, starting from February 2010 until May 2010. The goal of this test is to investigate the impact of cow manure and ZA dose on the growth of the cocoa seed. A complete random block design was implemented in this test with two treatment factors, namely cow manure dose (0, 300, 600, and 900 g seed-1) and ZA dose (0,0; 1,0; 2,0; and 3,0 g seed-1). All treatments were repeated three times. The result of the test shows that interaction between cow manure and ZA doshas real impact on the growth of the cocoa seed. The dose of 900 g cow manure seed-1with 2,0 g dose of ZA seed-1contributes the highest weight of fresh seed (each of 9,79 and 3,12 g seed-1) and oven-dry weight (each of 12,69 and 4,47 seed-1) both at the age of 75 and 90 hsbd. 3,0 dose of ZA seed-1 in the similar cow manure dose (900 g seed-1) did not provide any real differences to fresh seed and dry oven weight of seed. 900 g dose of cow manure seed-1 with 2,0 g dose of ZA seed-1also provides the highest and the widest numbers of leaves at the second ages, and the highest of stem diameter at the age of 90 hsbd. The optimum dose of cow manure and ZA was not gained yet in this test. There was a linear relationship between cow manure dose and ZA dose with fresh seed weight and dry oven weighting 90 hsbd. The dose of 900 g cow manure seed-1and 2,0 g ZA seed-1can be used to obtain the best cocoa seed growth until the age of 90 hsbd. Further study is required by using the dose combination of both fertilizer to investigate the growth of seed after the age of 90 hsbd.

Stability analysis for seed longevity in landraces of sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]

Seed longevity in sorghum is a major determinant in seed production and germplasm preservation. Forty-six local landraces representing nine genetic races of sorghum were evaluated under accelerated aging and natural storage conditions to study the genotype-environment interactions and the stability of landraces for seed longevity. Genotype-environment interactions were highly significant indicating the influence of storage conditions on seed longevity. The stability of landraces was estimated using mean (xi), regression coefficient (bi) and regression deviation (S2di). Environmental indices for the seed longevity traits were high in E1 (fresh seed) followed by E2 (accelerated aged seeds), E3 (stored seeds for 12 months) and E4 (stored seeds for 24 months). Seven sorghum landraces viz., IC-345729 (Bicolor), IC-347571 (Caudatum), IC-347577 (Durra), IC-345244 (Durra), IC-415803 (Durra), IC-415822 (Durra bicolor) and IC-415829 (Guinea bicolor) were stable for seed longevity. These genotypes are therefore, recommended for use in further breeding to improve seed longevity in sorghum, which otherwise is generally poor.