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G-s.com:
flowers & ornamentals: articles
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A Practical Guide to Germinating Palm Seeds
Reprinted with permission from the April 1999 issue of Palms (formerly
Principes), Journal of the International Palm Society
© 1999 The International Palm Society, all rights reserved
- JEFF
MARCUS
- Floribunda
Palms and Exotics, P.O. Box 635, Mountain View, HI 96771 USA
- KEN
BANKS
- PO.
Box 555, Pahoa, HI 96 778 USA
With most palms, propagation from seed is not difficult as long as
a few basic requirements are met. Among the most important are fresh seed,
good sanitation, proper medium, proper hydration, and adequate heat. Each
of these points will be discussed separately, although they are inter-related.
Fresh Seed
The fresher the seeds are, the better the results will be. To check the
freshness of your seeds, cut open a sample seed and inspect the endosperm
and embryo. The embryo should be fresh, firm, and not discolored. If the
interior of the seed is rotten or has an unpleasant odor, it is unlikely
to germinate. The endosperm is of two types, homogeneous or ruminate, and
may be hard, oily, or even hollow. If the inside of a homogeneous seed is
off-color, such as brown or gray, or if it smells bad, the seed is old or
was harvested before maturity. Such seeds are also unlikely to germinate.
In a ruminate seed, the seed coat is infolded, creating dark, tangled streaks
in the endosperm. Ruminate seed is more difficult to assess because of its
more complex appearance.
Removing the Fruit Pulp
 The fleshy or fibrous
fruit pulp frequently contains growth inhibitors. Removing it before planting
will improve results. Methods for doing this vary with the quantity and
type of seeds, but most begin with a preliminary 48-72-hour soak in water.
Soaking causes the pulp to ferment, which weakens it for easier removal.
Change the water daily during the soak. Fruit that is slightly immature
should be placed in a tightly closed plastic bag and kept in a warm spot
for a week or so. This promotes ripening and softens the outer flesh for
cleaning. Sometimes the seeds need to be soaked further to soften the pulp,
sometimes not.
There are several ways
to remove the seed coat. With small quantities of seeds, simply rub them
by hand against a fine-meshed screen and wash away the pulp with water.
Another way that works well with small amounts of seed is to shake them
by hand in a closed container with water and small, rough-edged rocks. Pour
off the water and pulp occasionally, add more water and shake again, until
the seeds are completely clean. Seeds can also be cleaned with a knife or
other sharp tool, but this is slow and a little dangerous.
Motorized cleaning devices
make the job easier and are a necessity for commercial operations. For smaller
quantities, use a rock tumbler. Put rocks and water inside with the seeds.
Larger seed-cleaning machines can be purchased or fabricated. Some large-scale
growers and seed dealers use cement mixers to do the job. The seeds are
rotated in the drum for 10-45 minutes with water and rough-edged rocks of
7-10 cm. The time will vary with the machine and the type of seed and rocks.
Some seeds are brittle, and without proper care may be damaged by power
cleaning. Among large-seeded palms, Actinorhytis is particularly brittle
and prone to damage, and many smaller seeds, such as Pinanga, must also
be handled with care. When cleaning seeds, remember that the flesh of some
types contain crystals of calcium oxalate, a skin irritant that can cause
severe pain on contact, depending on the individual's sensitivity. For this
reason, Ptychosperma, Arenga, Caryota, and Wallichia should be handled with
care. <
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Green - Seeds Co., Ltd.
81/10B Ho Van Hue Street, Phu Nhuan District, Ward 9, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Tel: +84 (8) 847 6901 - Fax: +84 (8) 844 1392 - Email: info@green-seeds.com
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