Tchokponhoué, D., E. Achigan-Dako, S. N’Danikou, A. Houdégbé, C. Agossou, F. Assogba-Komlan, et al. 2018. Regeneration ability and seedling growth in the miracle plant Synsepalum dulcificum (Schumach. & Thonn.) Daniell. Fruits 73: 13-21.
Conservation and management of recalcitrant-seeded species are a major concern, particularly for socio-economically important species such as Synsepalum dulcificum in which seed viability and storage behavior are not sufficiently documented. In order to improve the seed propagation management of S. dulcificum, we investigated the effects of seed provenance, short-term storage, culture medium, and pulp removal on viability, germinability, germination speed, and seedlings growth. A first experiment following a complete randomized block design consisted of two treatments (intact fruit or depulped fruit). In a second experiment we used a split-split-plot design with 16 treatments of a factorial combination of 2 provenances (Houéyogbé and Toffo), 2 culture media (soil and sawdust) and 4 storage times (0, 1, 2, and 7 days). The seed viability remained high (85%) on the second day of storage at ambient condition and decreased to 0% when seeds were stored for 7 days. It was affected by the type of culture medium. All factors, except pulp removal, affected germinability and germination speed with percentages ranging from 44 to 99% at two months after sowing. Seedling growth was extremely slow and was affected by the seed provenance, substrate, and storage time. The time of storage is a major limiting factor for S. dulcificum seed viability whereas successive use of sawdust and soil for germination and seedling growth, respectively, is recommended to improve seedling production in the nursery.
