The latent period of some of species of the genus Malus introduced in the Peter the Great Botanical Garden

Abstract

Background. High quality seeds of introduced plants are an indicator of the success of the cultivation of new plants in other climates. In the context of the Botanic Garden of Peter the Great (St. Petersburg), introduced a large number of species of the genus Malus Mill. Assessment of the quality of fruits and seeds are formed has not yet been carried out. Objective. Some species of the Malus (Rosaceae), introduced in the Peter the Great Botanical Garden. Materials and methods. The fruits and seeds of some species of apple trees were collected from plants grown in the park-arboretum of the Peter the Great Botanical garden of Komarov Botanical Institute of RAS. Germination of seeds were carried out in laboratory conditions; at different times of the year, using various methods to improve seed germination, purified seeds of the seed coat, applied stratification, using hydrogen peroxide treatment. X-ray analysis of fruits and seeds was carried out on a mobile X-ray unit, designed at the St. Petersburg Electro-Technical University (“LETI”). Results and conclusions. Every year, in the condition of the Peter the Great Botanical Garden of BIN RAS (St. Petersburg), have grown species of the genus Malus annually produced fruit, but not all fruits are formed made and selected seeds, high-quality seeds, not all seeds are of good quality and the degree of implementation. The fruits are often infertile or (without seed), or a small number of them is fastened seeds. A significant portion of seeds in the fruit is not developed (still puny). Completed and viable seeds of a number of species of the genus Malus can germinate immediately after harvest (in September), but purified and contained in a dry form, quickly come to rest in the autumn-winter period (from October till February - March). Cold stratification, even prolonged, stimulates seed germination, as well as pre-treatment of seeds with hydrogen peroxide (3%). For the estimation of stored seeds in the laboratory, you must apply the stratification and the removal of the seed coat. A number of species of apple trees made seed affected by pests (90%). X-ray diffraction method for assessing the quality of the fruit and the implementation of introduced plants seeds allows not destructive to monitor and identify the affected larvae seeds.