Seed germination characteristics and growing media effects on seedling development of bottle tree (Brachychiton populneus Schott & Endl. R. Br.)

Abstract

The determination of optimum growing environments and the development of seed propagation strategies are becoming increasingly important in plant breeding, particularly for drought-tolerant species. The bottle tree (B. populneus Schott & Endl. R. Br.), belonging to the subfamily Sterculioideae of the Malvaceae family, is an evergreen ornamental plant characterized by high adaptability and pronounced drought resistance. This study investigated the germination characteristics of bottle tree seeds and the effects of different growing media on seedling development. The research was conducted between 2017 and 2021. The average of thousand-seed weight was 94 g with germination rates ranging from 87% to 99.5% and germination times of 7.6 - 11.2 days. Seed priming with poplar (P. usbekistanica) sawdust extract significantly shortened the germination period in biennial seeds. Growing media significantly affected plant height, stem diameter, and leaf number (p < 0.05). Based on between years differences, the highest increases in plant height, stem diameter, and leaf number were observed in T5-GS+CBC(1:2), T6-GS+CBC(2:1), and T4-GS+CBC(1:1) media, respectively, while the lowest change values were determined in the T2-PS(C) medium. Garden soil and chestnut burr compost promoted seedling growth, whereas poplar sawdust suppressed it. These findings indicate that fresh poplar sawdust can serve as an ecological alternative to chemical growth regulators for plant height control in nurseries. In addition, chestnut compost has been shown to be a sustainable alternative to chemical fertilizers, as it improves soil structure and nutrient availability. The ease of seed propagation and high drought tolerance of the bottle tree highlight its potential as a valuable species for landscaping and climate change adaptation in arid ecosystems.

Keywords

• Compost
• growth control
• growing media
• ornamental plant
• poplar sawdust

Şişe Ağacı (Brachychiton populneus Schott & Endl. R.Br.) tohumlarının çimlenme özellikleri ve yetiştirme ortamlarının fidan gelişimine etkileri

Öz

Bitki ıslahında optimum yetiştirme ortamlarının belirlenmesi ve tohumla çoğaltma stratejilerinin geliştirilmesi, özellikle kuraklığa dayanıklı türlerde giderek artan bir öneme sahiptir. Şişe ağacı (B. populneus Schott & Endl. R.Br.), Malvaceae familyasının Sterculioideae alt familyasına ait, her dem yeşil, yüksek adaptasyon kapasitesine ve belirgin kuraklık toleransına sahip bir süs bitkisidir. Bu çalışmada, şişe ağacı tohumlarının çimlenme özellikleri ile farklı yetiştirme ortamlarının fidan gelişimi üzerindeki etkileri incelenmiştir. Araştırma 2017–2021 yılları arasında yürütülmüştür. Bin tohumun ortalama ağırlığı 94 g, çimlenme oranı %87–99,5 ve çimlenme süresi 7,6–11,2 gün olarak belirlenmiştir. Kavak (P. usbekistanica) talaşı ekstraktı ile gerçekleştirilen ön uygulama, özellikle iki yıllık tohumlarda çimlenme süresini anlamlı biçimde kısaltmıştır. Yetiştirme ortamlarının, fidan boyu, gövde çapı ve yaprak sayısı üzerinde istatistiksel olarak önemli etkileri olduğu saptanmıştır (p < 0.05). Yıllar arasındaki değişime göre, bitki boyu, gövde çapı ve yaprak sayısındaki en yüksek artışlar sırasıyla T5-GS+CBC(1:2), T6-GS+CBC(2:1) ve T4-GS+CBC(1:1) ortamlarında gözlenmiş, buna karşılık en düşük değişim T2-PS(C) ortamında belirlenmiştir. Bahçe toprağı ve kestane kabuğu kompostu fidan gelişimini desteklerken, kavak talaşının büyümeyi baskılayıcı etkiler gösterdiği belirlenmiştir. Bu sonuçlar, taze kavak talaşının fidanlıklarda bitki boy kontrolünde kimyasal büyüme düzenleyicilere ekolojik bir alternatif olarak değerlendirilebileceğini ortaya koymaktadır. Ayrıca kestane kompostunun, toprak yapısını iyileştirmesi ve besin elementleri sağlaması yoluyla kimyasal gübrelere sürdürülebilir bir alternatif olabileceği gösterilmiştir. Şişe ağacının tohumla kolay çoğaltılabilirliği ve kuraklığa yüksek toleransı, kurak ekosistemlerde peyzaj uygulamaları ve iklim değişikliğine uyum için önemli bir potansiyele sahip olduğunu ortaya koymaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Kompost
• büyüme kontrolü
• yetiştirme ortamı
• süs bitkisi
• kavak talaşı.

Kaynakça

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