Abstract

EX SITU CONSERVATION OF THE RARE AND ENDEMIC SPECIES OF POECILONEURON PAUCIFLORUM BEDD

*Y. Justin Koilpillai

ABSTRACT

Poeciloneuron pauciflorum Bedd. is a rare and endemic tree species of the Southern Western Ghats of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, India. Due to the high degree of endemism, the distribution of this species is restricted to the forest region of Inchikuzhi and Kannikatty of Tirunelveli hills (Agasthiamalai) of Tamil Nadu and Travancore region (Kerala). Naturally this species reproduces by seeds only with very low regeneration capacity. In the present study the relationship between the moisture content and the germination of the seeds stored at room temperature (28-31ºC) has been analyzed. It is found that the moisture content 22% is critical for the germination of these seeds of this species. Above 22% moisture content the seed germination was 70- 75%, while the seed germination was found to be between 45.5-58% when the moisture content is below 22%. Although high percentage of germination was observed in the fresh seeds both in vitro and in vivo the survival rate is very low and the species is rare. To overcome this problem in vitro germinated seedlings from the seeds with critical moisture content (22%) were introduced into the field for more survivability.

Keywords: Ex situ conservation, Poeciloneuron pauciflorum, Recalcitrance, Twin seedlings.