SEED GERMINATION, SEEDLING ESTABLISHMENT AND REINTRODUCTION INTO THE WILD OF THE HEMIPARASITIC MEDICINAL PLANT MONOCHASMA SAVATIERI

Abstract

The ecology, seed germination, seedling establishment, and reintroduction of Monochasma savatieri Franch. ex Maxim, a traditional Chinese hemiparasitic medicinal herb, were studied by focusing on the distribution, climate, soil type, flowering and seed production, co-occurring vegetation, and pollinators. The distribution range of M. savatieri lies between 25°03'-29°12' N to 113°39'-120°27' E, based on our sampling. M. savatieri requires vernalization to induce flowering. Seed germination was enhanced by gibberellic acid at an optimum concentration of 500 µM. Other plant growth regulators, including indole-3-acetic acid and 6-benzyladenine, did not enhance seed germination. Low temperature (5 °C) storage was favorable to keep seed viability, which was negatively influenced by increasingly long storage periods. We also examined seedling development and transplantation to the field. Seedlings were interplanted with a moss Hypnum plumaeforme, until they developed true leaves. Developed plants were then transplanted into the wild alongside a host, Gardenia jasminoides, and 23% of the transplanted plants survived after 8 months.