Intraspecific Morphological Variations among the Populations of Milicia excelsa, Pouteria adolfi-friedericii, and Prunus africana in Different Natural Forests of Southwest Ethiopia

Plants have the ability to change their morphological and physiological traits in response to environmental variations. The objective of this study was to determine the intraspecific morphological variations among the populations of M. excelsa, P. adolfi-friedericii, and P. africana in southwest Ethiopia. Representative forests were systematically selected, and a total of ten transects of 160 m length were randomly laid at 100 m intervals, and 30 quadrats (20 m by 20 m) were laid along each transect line at 50 m intervals. Stem height, DBH, and bole length of trees for each species were measured in each quadrat. The intraspecific morphological variations among populations of each species were computed using hierarchical clustering and principal component analysis (PCA) with R.4.1.3. A total of 55 trees for M. excelsa in four forests, 232 trees for P. adolfi-friedericii in eight forests, and 184 trees for P. africana in five forests were measured. Accordingly, three, five, and three population clusters were identified for M. excelsa, P. adolfi-friedericii, and P. africana, respectively. The analysis of similarity (ANOSIM) indicated the presence of considerable dissimilarity among population clusters for M. excelsa and P. africana but was not significant at p ≤ 0.05 (R = 0.9, p = 0.17 ). However, ANOSIM indicated the presence of considerable dissimilarity among population clusters of P. adolfi-freidericii, which was significant at p ≤ 0.05 (R = 0.9, p = 0.03 ). Overall, there was a visible morphological variability among the populations of M. excelsa, P. adolfi-friedericii, and P. africana each at the different sites. Therefore, it is important to look for conservation strategies, such as domestication, to maintain and improve the variability and genetic quality among the populations in a wider scale of the ecological and social environment.</jats:p

Intraspecific Morphological Variations among the Populations of Milicia excelsa, Pouteria adolfi-friedericii, and Prunus africana in Different Natural Forests of Southwest Ethiopia

Plants have the ability to change their morphological and physiological traits in response to environmental variations. The objective of this study was to determine the intraspecific morphological variations among the populations of M. excelsa, P. adolfi-friedericii, and P. africana in southwest Ethiopia. Representative forests were systematically selected, and a total of ten transects of 160 m length were randomly laid at 100 m intervals, and 30 quadrats (20 m by 20 m) were laid along each transect line at 50 m intervals. Stem height, DBH, and bole length of trees for each species were measured in each quadrat. The intraspecific morphological variations among populations of each species were computed using hierarchical clustering and principal component analysis (PCA) with R.4.1.3. A total of 55 trees for M. excelsa in four forests, 232 trees for P. adolfi-friedericii in eight forests, and 184 trees for P. africana in five forests were measured. Accordingly, three, five, and three population clusters were identified for M. excelsa, P. adolfi-friedericii, and P. africana, respectively. The analysis of similarity (ANOSIM) indicated the presence of considerable dissimilarity among population clusters for M. excelsa and P. africana but was not significant at p≤0.05 (R = 0.9, p=0.17). However, ANOSIM indicated the presence of considerable dissimilarity among population clusters of P. adolfi-freidericii, which was significant at p≤0.05 (R = 0.9, p=0.03). Overall, there was a visible morphological variability among the populations of M. excelsa, P. adolfi-friedericii, and P. africana each at the different sites. Therefore, it is important to look for conservation strategies, such as domestication, to maintain and improve the variability and genetic quality among the populations in a wider scale of the ecological and social environment

In-vitro seed germination Trial for the population Terminalia ivorensis Collected from Benchi-Maji zone, south western Ethiopia

Abstract Tree seeds exhibit some degree of dormancy. Similarly, the seeds of Terminalia ivorensis germinate with great difficulties. To break the dormancy and improve the germination capability of seeds, different types of mechanical and physiological approaches can be followed. Accordingly, the seeds of T. ivorensis were subjected to two pre-sowing treatments (one is with seeds soaked in water for 24 hours and the other is with seeds soaked for 10 minutes in 80% concentrated H2SO4 then abundantly rinsed in running water for 20 minutes) in addition to the control one. So, a total of 100 seeds divided into 4 replications (25 seeds per tray) were tested for each treatment. Then, treated seeds were sown in sand tray to seed the germination characteristic of the different treatments. The sown seeds were followed up for 5 months with proper watering, and the germination record was taken accordingly. Analysis of the germination of the different treatments shows that seeds that were not treated exhibits better mean germination percentages (62%) followed by the one with seeds soaked for 24 hours (47%). However, seeds treated with 80% [H2SO4] for 10 minutes then abundantly rinsed in running water for 20 minutes showed no germination. So, both the 62% and 47% germination recorded are fairly accepted results considering the low germination capacity of T. ivorensis in laboratory and natural conditions. However, other possible pre-sowing treatment techniques can be studied and incorporated for increasing the seed germination of T. ivorensis in-vitro in addition to the records obtained in this trial.</jats:p

EFFECTS OF GERMINATION ECOLOGY ON IN VITRO GERMINATION PERFORMANCE OF HIGHLAND BAMBOO (Yushania alpina) SEED COLLECTED FROM KEFA, SOUTH WEST ETHIOPIA

Yushania alpina is an African endemic bamboo species, and it is a valuable resource in ecological and socioeconomically value in Ethiopia. However, low germination is a challenge for seedlings production besides its seed availability is scarce. To improve the seed germination capacity, using different germination ecology treatments are needed. Hence, this study was initiated to investigate the effects of different germination ecology, and to determine the qualities, size, and yield of Y. alpina seed. The collected matured fruits were processed, and then the cleaned (pure) and not cleaned (impure) seed were used for this study. This study had two phases; the first was to measure the purity, moisture content, seed character, seed yield; and the second was to investigate the effects of different germination ecology for in vitro seed germination of Y. alpina using pure and impure seeds. In this result, the purity, moisture content, seed size, seed weight, and grain yield were determined for cleaned Y. alpina seed. The interaction effects of seed type and germination ecology were highly significant on all germination parameters. The highest germination capacity (55%) of pure seed was recorded on T2 (paper + ambient temperature), followed by 38% on T1 (sand +ambient temperature), and 31% on T3 (paper + incubator (25°C)); however, these treatments produced lower results in the impure seed. In addition, the highest (23.5 days) mean germination time was recorded on T3, followed by 13.06 on T2 using impure seed, but the lowest (2.5 and 2.01) value was recorded on T1 and T2 of pure seeds. Hence, this result concluded that using sand media at ambient temperature as germination ecology is preferred to enhance the germination capacity of Y. alpina seed. Also, seed surface disinfection using antifungals is recommended to reduce seed contamination</jats:p

Effects of Germination Ecology on in Vitro Germination Performance of Highland Bamboo (Yushania Alpina) Seed Collected From Kefa, South West Ethiopia

Yushania alpina is an African endemic bamboo species, and it is a valuable resource in ecological and socioeconomically value in Ethiopia. However, low germination is a challenge for seedlings production besides its seed availability is scarce. To improve the seed germination capacity, using different germination ecology treatments are needed. Hence, this study was initiated to investigate the effects of different germination ecology, and to determine the qualities, size, and yield of Y. alpina seed. The collected matured fruits were processed, and then the cleaned (pure) and not cleaned (impure) seed were used for this study. This study had two phases; the first was to measure the purity, moisture content, seed character, seed yield; and the second was to investigate the effects of different germination ecology for in vitro seed germination of Y. alpina using pure and impure seeds. In this result, the purity, moisture content, seed size, seed weight, and grain yield were determined for cleaned Y. alpina seed. The interaction effects of seed type and germination ecology were highly significant on all germination parameters. The highest germination capacity (55%) of pure seed was recorded on T2 (paper + ambient temperature), followed by 38% on T1 (sand +ambient temperature), and 31% on T3 (paper + incubator (25°C)); however, these treatments produced lower results in the impure seed. In addition, the highest (23.5 days) mean germination time was recorded on T3, followed by 13.06 on T2 using impure seed, but the lowest (2.5 and 2.01) value was recorded on T1 and T2 of pure seeds. Hence, this result concluded that using sand media at ambient temperature as germination ecology is preferred to enhance the germination capacity of Y. alpina seed. Also, seed surface disinfection using antifungals is recommended to reduce seed contaminatio