UNIVERSITI PUTRA MALAYSIA STUDIES ON SEED ...psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/10285/1/FP_1991_1_A.pdfBUDSHOOT GROWRH OF HEVEA BRASILIENSIS (MUELL. ARG. ) EUGENIO A. ALCALA FP 1991 1 STUDIES

UNIVERSITI PUTRA MALAYSIA

STUDIES ON SEED GERMINATION, BUD ACTIVATION AND EARLY BUDSHOOT GROWRH OF HEVEA BRASILIENSIS (MUELL. ARG. )

EUGENIO A. ALCALA

FP 1991 1

STUDIES ON SEED GERMINATION, BUD ACTIVATION AND EARLY BUDSHOar GROwrH OF HEVEA BRASILIENSIS (MUEIJ... ARG.)

by

EUGENIO A. ALCALA

A Thesis Submitted in Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Faculty of

Agriculture, Universiti Pertanian Malaysia

March 1991

To my wife - Tenny

and

children Euny

ii

Gete Rena Ruby Noel

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The author wishes to express his profound thanks and

gratitude to the following:

Dr . Wong Kai Choo , his supervisor and Professor Dr . Mohd.

Zain Karim , co-supervisor and the concurrent Dean of the Facul

ty of Agriculture , for their over-all guidance and

supervision;

Encik: Hassan Mohd. Rashid and his staff for providing

enough area and the use of some facilities for the first three

experiments conducted at the UPM Horticulture section;

Dr. Abdul Aziz bin S.A. Kadir , Director of RRIM, for

permitting the author to conduct seven of the experiments at

the RRIM Experiment Station at Sungai Buloh;

Dr. Yoon Pooi Kong, Head of the Plant Science Division of

RRIM for his comments @nd suggestions and also in allowing the

author to use some of the facilities in his Division;

Dr. Hafsah bt. Jaafar, a senior researcher of RRIM for her

valuable comments, suggestions and sincere efforts in

monitoring the proper conduct of the experiments including the

gathering of some important data with the help of Encik Jafri

iii

Sharib, her junior researcher Who also shared his views,

technical knowledge and experiences with the author;

Mr. Chin Siew Lock for his unlimi ted assistance in

facilitating the availability of some research materials,

preparation of the research area, and other field services

through the cooperation of Dr. Ng Kim Foo and other staff in

their Division;

Dr. J. B. Gomez, Dr. Shamsidah bt. Hamzah and Dr. Ruth Kiew

for sharing their views about the anatomical study, and also

Mr. Ng Book Seng, in-charge of the RRIM Anatomical Laboratory

for preparing the specimens;

Professor Dr. Yap Thoo Chai, for his suggestions in the

selection of appropriate experimental designs, and Mr. Anuar

bin Abdul Rahim, who assisted the author and facilitated the

use of the computer for the analysis of the data;

Dr. Fernando A. Bernardo, Director of the Southeast Asian

Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture

(SEARCA) for granting the scholarship support, and also his

former Deputy, Dr. Suraphol Sanguansri and the current Deputy

Dr. Sam-arng Srinilta for their moral support and prompt

attention to some problems met by the author; and

iv

Dr. (Rj) Jaman S. Imlam, President of the University of

Southern Mindanao for his official permission and strong

recommendation for the author to study.

v

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE

ACKNOWI..Eoo.�S . ... " . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . .. . . . . . .. . .. . " . " iii

LIST OF TAB� . " . . . . . . . • . . " . .. .. . . .. " . . . . . . .. .. . . . . . . . . ix

LIST 01'1 FIGURES ....... ..... ....... " .. .. " " . .. " .. . .. .. .. . " .. . .. .. " " " ,, . xv

LIST OF PUTES . "" . . .. . .. . . .. . .. " . . . . . .. . " .. ... . .. . " . . . . . " . xvi

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xix

DEFINITION OF TECHNICAL TERMS . . . . . . . . . . . . • • . . • . . . . xx

ABSTRACT " . . " " . . " . " . . . . " . .. . . . . . . . .. .. . .. . . . .. . . .. " . .. . . .. . xxi

ABSTRAK " . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xxiv

CHAPTER

1 INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

2 REVIEW OF LITERATURE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Seed Germina t,ion . . ..... . ... . . ..... . . . . ... . . . . . . ... . . 4

Germination and Early Growth of Rubber Seedlings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 1 0

Propagation and Establishment Methods in Rubber ... . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . 1 6

Plant Growth Substances ..................... . 21

Bud Emergence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Induction of Bud Emergence . . . . • • . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

Factors Affecting Bud-break in Hevea Buddings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

vi

3

4

Preliminary Investigations of Growth Substances on Bud-break and Subsequent Growth of Shoot in Hevea Btiddings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Scope and Coverage of the Study

Duration and Place of the Study

PlaJl t Ma. t,erials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Plant Growth Regulators . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . • • . . . . •

Other Ma.terials

Prep8ration of Growth Regulator Solutions . . . •

Application of the Growth Regulators . . . . . • . • .

Preparation of Ma.terials for Anatomical Study.

Preparation and Management of Experiments . . • .

Collection of Da'ta. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Studies on Seed Germination and Seedling Growth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Studies on Bud-break and Subsequent Growth of Budshoot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Study on Growth of Budshoot After Emergence . . .

Statistical Analysis

EXPERIMENTAL WORK • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Studies on Seed Germination and Seedling Growth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Germination of Hevea Seeds (RRIM 600) During the Early Seedfall . . . . • . . . • . . . . . . . . . . •

Germination of Hevea Seeds (RRIM 600) During the Peak Seedfall . • . • • . . • • . . . . . . . . . . . •

vii

44

44

45

46

49

50

51

52

53

55

59

59

60

63

64

65

65

65

74

5

6

Studies on Bud-break and Subsequent Growth of Budshoot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Screening .of Growth Regulators for Early Induction of Bud-break and Subsequent Growth of Budshoot in Hevea Buddings . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The Optimum Rate of Benzyladenine (BA) Application on"the Induction of Early Bud-break

91

92

in Hevea Green Buddings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 06

The Effect of Benzyladenine (BA) on the Induction of Early Bud-break in Hevea Young Buddings . . . . 1 1 3

The Response of the Different Hevea Clones to Benzyladenine (BA) Application on the Induction of Early Bud-break . . . . . • . � . • . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . 1 23

Other Techniques on Induction of Early Bud-break in Hevea Green Buddings • . . • . . . . . . . . • . • • 1 29

Study on Growth of Budshoot After Emergence 1 50

The Early Budshoot Growth of Hevea Green Thlddings as Influenced by Gibberellin Prepara tion (GA ) . . . . . . . . . • • . . . . . . . . . . . • . • . 1 51

4+7 Anatomical Study on Hevea Budpatch . • . . . . . • . . . 1 69

Anatomical Study on the Hevea Budpatch as Influenced by Growth Regulators , Melted Paraffin Wax and Warm Water . • • . . . . . • . . . • . . . • . 1 71

GEN"ERl\.L DISCUSSION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 87

SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION . . • • • • • . 1 96

REFE�CES 202

APPENDICES 222

TI1E AUTHOR . . . . • . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . 247

viii

LIST OF TABLES

TABLE

1 The Effect of Seed Cracking and Seed Weight on Mean Percentage of Germination at 1 4 Days After Sowing

PAGE

of RRIM 600 Seeds Collected During Early Seedfall • . • 68

2 The Effect of Seed Cracking and Seed Weight on Mean Percentage of Germination at 21 Days After Sowing of RRIM 600 Seeds Collected During Early Seedfall . . . . 70

J The Effect of Seed Cracking and Seed Weight on Mean Percentage of Germination at 14 Days After Sowing of RRIM 600 Seeds Collected During the Peak Seedfall . . . . 77

4 The Effect of Seed Cracking and Seed Weight on Mean Percentage of Germination at 21 Days After Sowing of RRIM 600 Seeds Collected During the Peak Seedfall . . . . 79

5 The Effect of Seed Cracking and Seed Weight on Mean Height (cm) of 8 Weeks Old Seedlings from RRIM 600 Seeds Which Germinated Earlier than 1 4 Days After Sowing . Seeds were Collected at Peak Seedfall . . . . . . . 80

6 The Effect of Seed Cracking and Seed Weight on Mean Height (cm) of 8 Weeks Old Seedlings from RRIM 600 Seeds Which Germinated at 1 5 to 21 Days After Sowing . Seeds were Collected at Peak Seedfall . . . . . . . . 82

7 The Effect of Seed Cracking and Seed Weight on Mean Girth (mm) of 8 Weeks Old Seedlings from RRIM 600 Seeds Which Germinated Earlier than 1 4 Days After Sowing. Seeds were Collected at Peak Seedfall . . . .. . . 84

8 The Effect of Seed Cracking and Seed Weight on Mean Girth (mm) of 8 Weeks Old Seedlings from RRIM 600 Seeds Which Germinated at 1 5 to 21 Days After Sowing . Seeds were Collected at Peak Seedfall . . . . . . . 86

9 The Effect of Seed Cracking and Seed Weight on Mean Percentage of Buddable Seedlings from RRIM 600 Seeds Which Germinated Earlier than 14 Days After Sowing . Seeds were Collected at Peak Seedfall . . . . . . . 87

ix

TABLE

10 The Ef fect of Seed Cracking and Seed Weight on Mean Percentage of Buddable Seedlings from RRIM 600 Seeds Which Germinated at 15 to 21 Days After

PAGE

Sowing. Seeds were Collected at Peak Seedfall....... 88

11 The Ef fect of Seed Cracking and Seed Weight on Mean Percentage of Deformed/Abnormal Seedlings from RRIM 600 Seeds Which Germinated at 15 to 21 Days After Sowing. Seeds were Collected at Peak Seedfall....... 89

12 The Percentage of Bud-break in Hevea Green Bud-dings (RRIM 905) as Influenced by the Different Growth Regula tors . . • . . . . . . . • . . . • . • • • • . . . • • . • • . . . . • . • 96

13 The Effect of the Different Growth Regulators on the Plant Characters of Hevea Green Buddings (RRIM 905) at 5 Months After Treatment • • . . . • • • • • • • • • 104

14 The Ef fect of Benzyladenine (BA) on the Plant Characters of Hevea Green Buddings (RRIM 905) at 5 Months After Treatment • . . . . . . . • • . . • . . • • • • • • • • • • 111

15 The Effect of Benzyladenine (BA) on the Plant Characters of Hevea Green Buddings (RRIM 901) at 5 Months After Treatment . . . . . . . . • • . • • • • . • . • • • . . • • . 118

16 The Effect of Benzyladenine (BA) at 3,500 ppm on the Plant Characters of Four Hevea Clones at 5 Months After Treatment . . • . . . � . • • . • . . . • . • . . . • . • • • 127

17 The Effect of the Different Techniques on the Percentage of Bud-break at 14 Days After Treatment . . . 133

18 The Effect of the Different Techniques on the Percentage of Bud-break at 21 Days After Treatment . . . 134

19 The Effect of the Different Techniques on the Percentage of Bud-break at 28 Days After Treatment . . . 135

20 The Effect of the Different Techniques on the Percentage of Bud-break at 60 Days After Treatment . . . 136

21 The Effect of the Different Techniques on the Height of Shoot at 5 Months After Treatment • . • . • . • • . . 138

x

TABLE

22 The Effect of the Different Techniques on the

PAGE

Fresh Weight of Shoot at 5 Months After Treatment • • • • 1 39

23 The Effect of the Different Techniques on the Dry Weight of Shoot at 5 Months After Treatment . . . . • . 1 40

24 The Effect of the Different Techniques on the Girth of Shoot Three cm from The Union at 5 Months After Treatment . . . . . . . . • • • . • • . . . . • . • • • . . • • . . . 1 42

25 The Effect of the Different Techniques on the Number of Roots at 5 Months After Treatment . . . . • . . • • 143

26 The Effect of the Different Techniques on the Fresh Weight of Roots at 5 Months After Treatment • • • • . • • • • 1 44

27 The Effect of the Different Techniques on the Dry Weight of Roots at 5 Months After Treatment . . . • . • . . • 1 46

28 The Effect of the Different Techniques on the Number of Leaves at 5 Months After Treatment • . • . . . . . 1 48

29 The Effect of The Different Techniques on the Number of Leafwhorl at 5 Months After Treatment 149

30

31

The Effect of Gibberellic Acid on the Fresh Weight of Shoot at 5 Months After Treatment

The Effect of Gibberellic Acid on the Dry Weight of Shoot at 5 Months After Treatment

32 The Effect of Gibberellic Acid on the Girth

1 61

1 62

of Shoot at 5 Months After Treatment . . . • . • . • • . . . • . . • 163

33 The Effect of Gibberellic Acid on the Number of Roots at 5 Months After Treatment . . . . . • • • . • . . • • • • 165

34 The Effect of Gibberellic Acid on the Fresh Weight of Roots at 5 Months After Treatment . • . . . . . . . . 1 66

35 The Effect of Gibberellic Acid on the Dry Weight of Roots at 5 Months After Treatment • . . . • . • • • 1 68

36 T he Effect of Gibberellic Acid on the Number of Leaves at 5 Months After Treatment • . . • • . . . . . . • . . . 1 70

xi

TABLE PAGE

37 Mean Squares from the Analysis of Variance for Percentage Germination of RRIM 600 Seeds Collected During Early and Peak Seedfall • . . . • . . . . . • • . 223

38 Mean Squares from the Analysis of Variance for Plant Height and Girth of 8 Weeks Old Seedlings of RRIM 600 Seeds Collected at Peak Seedfall • • • • . • • . • 224

39 Mean Squares from the Analysis of Variance for Percentage of Buddable and Deformed/Abnormal Seed-lings of RRIM 600 Seeds Collected at Peak Seedfall . . • 225

40 Mean Squares from the Analysis of Variance for Percentage of Bud-break of Hevea Buddings After the Application of the Dif ferent Growth Regulators 226

41 Mean Squares from the Analysis of Variance for Shoot Characters of Hevea Buddings Treated wit Dif ferent Growth Regulators at 5 Months After Trea tmen t . . • . . . . • . • . • . • . . • . . . • • . . • • . • . • . • • . . . • • 227

42 Mean Squares from the Analysis of Variance for Root and Leaf Characters of Hevea Buddings Treated with Dif ferent Growth Regulators at 5 Months After Treatment . . . . . . . . • . . . • . . • • • • . • • • • • • • . • . • 228

43 Mean Squares from the Analysis of Variance for Percentage of Bud-break of Hevea Green Buddings Treated with Different Levels of Benzyladenine . • • • . . • 229

44 Mean Sqllares from the Analysis of Variance for Shoot Characters of Hevea Green Buddings Treated with Different Levels of Benzyladenine at 5 Months After Trea tmen t . . • . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . • • • . • • • . . . . . . . • . . . . . 230

45 Mean Squares from the Analysis of Variance for Root and Leaf Characters of Hevea Green Bud-dings Treated with Different Levels of Benzyla-denine at 5 Months After Treatment . . . • . . . . • • . • • • . . . . . 231

46 Mean Squares from the Analysis of Variance for Percentage of Bud-break of Hevea Young Buddings Treated With Different Levels of Benzyladenine . . • • • • . 232

xii

TABLE

47 Mean Squares from the Analysis of Variance for Shoot Characters of Hevea Young Buddings Treated with Different Levels of Benzyladenine at 5 Months

PAGE

After Trea tmen t. . • • . . • • . . • • • . • • • • • • • • • • • . . • • • • • • • • . • • 233

48 Mean Squares from the Analysis of Variance for Root and Leaf Characters of Hevea Young Buddings Treated with Different Levels of Benzyladenine at 5 Months After Treatment ..... . .. . ... . . ......... . . . ... 234

49 Mean Squares from the Analysis of Variance for Percentage of Bud-break of 4 Clones of Hevea Green Buddings After Application of Benzyladenine • . • . . • • . • • 235

50 Mean Squares from the Analysis of Variance for Shoot Characters of 4 Clones of Hevea Green Buddings Treated With Benzyladenine at 5 Months After Trea tmen t. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236

51 Mean Squares from the Analysis of Variance for Root and Leaf Characters of 4 Clones of Hevea Green Buddings Treated With Benzyladenine at 5 Months After Trea tmen t. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 237

52 Mean Squares from the Analysis of Variance for Percentage of Bud-break As Affected by the Different Te�hniques . . .. . .. . .. . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . .. . ... 238

53 Mean Squares from the Analysis of Variance for Shoot Characters As Affected by the Different Techniques at 5 Months After Treatment .. . . . . . . .. . . . .. 239

54 Mean Squares from the Analysis of Variance for Root and Leaf Characters As Affected by the Different Techniques at 5 Months After Treatment . . . . • 240

55 Mean SqlUires from the Analysis of Variance for Shoot Height As Affected by the Application of Gibberellic Acid . . . .. . . . . . . . . . .... . . . . . . .. . ....... 241

56 Mean Squares from the Analysis of Variance for Shoot Characters As Affected by the Application of Gibberellic Acid at 5 Months After Treatment . . . • • . 242

xiii

TABLE

57 Mean Squares from the Analysis of Variance for Shoot Characters As Affected by the Application

PAGE

of Gibberellic Acid at 5 Months After Treatment • • • • • • 243

58 Analytical Data for Serdang Soil Series . • • • • . • • . • . . . . 245

59 Analytical Data for Munchong Soil Series . • . • . . • . . • . • • 246

xiv

LIST OF FIGURES

FIGURE

1 The Hard Seeds of Lupinus arboreus have a Moisture Value in the Hilum Operated by a Counterpalisade Tissue. When there is More Moisture Outside than Inside, the Counter-palisade Swells

PAGE

& Closes the Hilum . . . . . . • • • . • • • . • • . • . . • • . . • . • • • • • . 11

The Gibbane Carbon Skeleton (left) which is the Basis of the Known Gibberellins with the Formula of Gi bberelli c Acid ( GA ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

3 3 Structural Formula of GA . . • . • . • • . . • . • • • • . • • • • • • • 27

4+7 4 Structures on Some Nat1rrally Occurring and Synthetic

Purines Cytokinins • • . . • • • • • • • • . • • • • • . • • • • • • • • . • • • • 29

5 Structural Formula of Benzyladenine (BA)........... 33

6 Structural Formula of Atrinal . . • . • • . . • . • • • • • . • . • . • 34

7 Structural Formula of Paclobutrazol (PP ) • • . • . • • 36 333

8 Effect of Benzyladenine (BA) at Different Levels of Concentration on the Percentage of Early Bud-break in Green Buddings . . . • . . . . . . . . • . . • • • • . • • • 108

9 Effect of Benzyladenine (BA) at Different Levels of Concentration on the Percentage of Early Bud-Break in Young Buddings • . • • • . • . • . • . • • • . • . . . • . • • 116

10 The Response of Hevea Clones of Benzylade-nine (BA) on the Percentage of Early Bud-break . • • • • 125

11 The Ef fect of GA on the Height of Shoot 4+7

Being Applied at Different Growth Stages • • • • • . • . . . . 157

xv

PLATE

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

LIST OF PlATES

Germinated Hevea Seeds with the Cotyledons Inside the Seeds ............................. .

RRIM 600 5-gram Seeds at 14 Days After Sowing (Seeds were Collected During the Early Seedfall Uncracked Before Sowing) . . • . • . • • . . . • •

RRIM 600 5-gram Seed at 14 Days After Sowing (Seeds were Collected During the Early Seedfall Cracked Before Sowing) • • • • • • • • • • • . . • .

Early Budshoot Growth of Hevea Buddings (RRIM 905) Treated with Paclobutrazol (pp ) (First Leafwhorl Stage) • . . . • • . • . • • • . • .

333 Early Budshoot Growth of Hevea Buddings (RRIM 905) Treated with Benzyladenine (BA) at 4,000 ppm (First Leafwhorl Stage) . • • • . • . . • .

Early Budshoot Growth of Hevea Buddings (RRIM 905) Treated with Benzyladenine (BA) Combined with Atrinal at 2,000 ppm (First 1eafwhor 1 Stage) • . • • . • • . . • • • • • • . . . . . . • . • . . . . . •

Early Budshoot Growth of Hevea Buddings (RRIM 905) Treated with Paclobutrazol (pp ) (First 1eafwhorl Stage) . . • • • • • . • • • . . • •

333 Green Buddings with Six Months Old Rootstocks (First Leafwhorl Stage) • • • • • . • • • . • .

Ten Weeks Old RRIM 623 Seedlings Budded wi th RRIM 901 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . • . • . • . . . . . •

Young Buddings with Ten Weeks Old Rootstocks and Green Buddings with Eight Months Old Rootstocks . • • . • . . . . . • • . • . . . . • . . . . . .

Budwood for Young Buddings . . . . . . . . . . • • • • . • • . . •

xvi

PAGE

13

71

72

99

100

101

102

112

120

121

122

PLl\.TE

1 2

1 3

1 4

1 5

1 6

1 7

1 8

1 9

20

21

22

23

Hevea Green Budding (RRIM 905 ) Treated with GA at Bud Stage . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . • . . . • . .

4+7 Hevea Green Buddings (RRIM 905 ) Treated with GA at Flushing Stage . . . . . . • . . . . • . . • . . . • • . . .

4+7 Hevea Green Buddings (RRIM 905 ) Treated with ox--- at dormant Stage . . • . . . . . • . • • . . • . . . • . • . . .

4+7 Small (1 .50-2.00 CM) Green Buddings Treated wi th GA a t Bud Stage . . . • . • . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . • .

4+7 Big (2.80 - 4.00 GM) Green Buddings Treated wi th GA at Bud Stage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . • •

4+7 Longitudinal Section of a Hevea Budpatch without Treatment (contro�5 Days After) X 1 00 ...."............................. . . . ....

Longitudinal Section of Hevea Budpatch Treated with Benzyladenine (5 Days After) X 1 00 ..............."........................................ ..

Longitudinal Section of Hevea Budpatch Treated with Benzyladenine �Days After ) X 1 00 ....................................................................... ..

Longitudinal Section of Hevea Budpatch Soaked in Melted Paraffin Wax at 85(1C (5 Days After) X 1 00 . . • . . . . . . • • • . . • • • • . • • • • . . . . • .

Longitudinal Section of Hevea Budpatch Soaked in Warm Water at 85�5 Days After) X 1 00 .............................................................. ..

Longitudinal Section of Hevea Budpatch Soaked in Melted Paraffin Wax at 85°C (1 0 Days After) X 1 00 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . .

Longitudinal Section of Hevea Budpatch o

Soaked in Warm Water at 85 C (10 Days After) X 100 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

xvii

PAGE

1 53

1 54

1 55

1 58

1 59

1 73

1 75

1 76

1 77

1 78

1 79

1 80

PLATE

24

25

26

27

Longitudinal Section of Hevea Budpatch Treated with PP ( 5 Days After) X 1 00 . • . . . . .

333 Longitudinal Section of Hevea Budpatch Treated wi th A trinal ( 5 Days After ) X 1 00 ........... .......... ..................... .

Longitudinal Section of Hevea Budpatch Treated With PP ( 1 0 Days After) x 1 00 • . . . .

333 Longitudinal Section of Hevea Budpatch Treated with Atrinal ( 1 0 Days After) X 1 00 . • .

28 An Enlarged Part at the Ventral Surface of RRIM 600 Seed Showing the Shallow Pit which

PAGE

181

182

183

184

is the lI:ilum . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 90

xviii

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

ABA abscisic acid

a . i . active ingredient

BA Benzyladenine

cce Chlormequate (2-Chloroethyl) trimethyl ammonium chloride

DMSO Dimethylsulfoxide

g gram

GA gibberellins

IAA indolyl-3-acetic acid

IAN Instituto de Pesquisas Agropecuarias de Norte

lBA indol-3-yl butyric acid

MH Maleic hydrazide

NAA naphthylacetic acid

NaOH sodium hydroxide

ppm parts per million

TBA Tertiary Butyl Alcohol

xix

DEFINITION OF TECHNICAL TERMS

Bud-break a bud at an advanced state of leaf primordial development

Budpatch a piece of bark which carry a bud

Budgrafting - another term for budding

Budshoot bud with differentiated leaves

Bud stage a period which follow bud-break before leaves are fully open

Budded stump - a bare rooted budded seedling without the upper portion beyond the budding union

Cracking of seedcoat - partial breaking of the hard covering of the seed

Cutback - Cutting of the terminal ends of shoots or branches

Carry-over-effect - a residual effect of an applied treatment

Dormant stage - a period when the leaves have attained full maturity with dark green in color

Flushing stage - a period when the young leaves have just fully opened usually with violet to lightyellow in colour

Green budding - a method of propagation whereby the bud is inserted to the stem of another plant through an incision about 10 - 20 cm from the ground level

Green buddings - a population of green budded plants

Induction of bud-break - the process of stimulating early cambial activity with the use of growth regulating substances or other horticultural manipulations

Young budding - a method of propagation whereby younger bud with light-green in colour is inserted to a young stem of another plant through an incision about 10-20 cm from the ground level

Young buddings a population of young budded plants

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An Abstract of the Thesis Presented to the Senate of Universiti Pertanian Malaysia in Fulfilment of the Requirements

for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy

STUDIES ON SEED GERMINATION, BUD ACTIVATION AND EARLY GROWTH OF BUDSHOOT IN HEVEA BRASILIENSIS (MUELL . ARG.)

by

EUGENIO A. AWALA

March 1 991

Supervisor: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Wong Kai Choo

Faculty: Agriculture

The reduction of uneven early growth of Hevea buddings

which could overcome the problem of low percentage of tappable

trees during the early years of tapping was evaluated. The

investigation covered a series of studies on the germination of

Hevea seeds; bud activation of budded stumps to induce early

bud-break by using growth regulators, other techniques and

other growth regulating materials; and the manipulation of

early growth of Hevea budshoot after emergence. An anatomical

study on the budpatch under the various bud activation

treatments was also carried out.

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Studies on the germination of seeds revealed that Hevea

seeds (RRIM 600) gathered during the early seedfall had very

low percentage of germination compared to those seeds gathered

during the peak seedfall. However, partial cracking of the seed

coat improved the percentage of germination in both groups of

seeds gathered during the early and peak seedfall. It was also

observed that heavier seeds (4-5 grams) germinated earlier

(before 14 days from sowing), with seedlings more vigorous than

those from the lighter seeds. Seedlings, from the early

germinated seeds reached buddable girth size for young budding

after two months from planting.

Studies on bud activation using benzyladenine at 3,500-

4,000 ppm revealed that 40-60 percent early bud-break could be

obtained in green and young buddings and this was significantly

higher than the early bud-break of the untreated control.

Similar response was obtained when different clonal materials

were used in green buddings. The regulator was applied by

brushing directly onto the dormant buds. Another technique

observed promising for inducing early bud-break was dipping the

budded stumps in melted paraffin wax at a temperature between o 0

60 C and 85 C . Forty to fifty percent bud-break was obtained

with this technique at three weeks after treatment.

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The early shoot growth of Hevea buddings was not affected

by any of the growth regulators applied onto the dormant buds.

However , after bud emergence , brushing gibberellin preparation

onto the shoot at bud st.age stimulated rapid growth of the

shoot. Significant rapid growth of shoot in height ,

particularly the first internode , was very evident between 15

to 30 days after the application of the chemical.

The effectiveness in the induction of bud-break by the

different treatments was found to be closely associated with

the early cambial activity and callus formation in stock and

scion as revealed in the anatomical study of the budpatch.

The studies on seed germination, bud activation and early

budshoot growth in Hevea revealed that variation in early

growth of Hevea buddings can be minimized significantly through

selection and appropriate treatments of seeds together with the

use of growth regulators and other horticultural techniques and

manipulations on the young and green buddings .

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Abstrak Tesis Yang Dikemukakan Kepada Senat Universiti Pertanian Malaysia Sebagai Mernenuhi Sy�rat

Keperluan Ijazah Doktor Falsafah

KAJIAN KE ATAS PERCEMBAHAN BIJI, PENGAKTIFAN TUNAS DAN PERTUMBUHAN AWAL PUCUK TUNAS HEVEA BRASILIENSIS

(MUELL. ARG.)

oleh

EUGENIO A. ALCALA

Mac 1991

Penyelia: Profesor Madya Dr. Wong Kai Choo

Fakul ti : Pertanian

Pertumbuhan peringkat awal tunas Hevea yang tidak seirnbang

yang secara langsung berhubung dengan rna salah peratus yang

rendah popok-pokok yang boleh ditoreh sernasa penorehan di

peringkat awal telah dinilai. Penyiasatan ini rneliputi beberapa

kajian ke atas percarnbahan biji Hevea, pengaktifan tunas

tunggul-tunggul canturnan untuk rnengal� pernecahan tunas yang

awal dengan penggunaan bahan-bahan pengawalatur, dan teknik

teknik lain dan juga rnerninda perturnbuhan pucuk tunas di

peringkat awal. Kajian anatorni ke atas keping tunas di bawah

keadaan berbagai rawatan pengaktifan tunas telah juga

dijalankan.

xxiv