Abstract

LUJAN-RANGEL, R et al. Germination as a selection parameter in Karwinskia for its productivity potential in peroxisomicine A1. Phyton (B. Aires) [online]. 2007, vol.76, pp.61-77. ISSN 1851-5657.

Karwinskia parvifolia (Kp) and Karwinskia humboldtiana (Kh) are poisonous plants of the rhamnacea family. Toxicological and clinical studies performed with one of the compounds present in the fruit [peroxisomicine A1 (PA1)) suggest its possible pharmacological usefulness in the treatment of certain types of cancer. This is why these plants are cultivated: to increase their productivity of PA1. We studied the effects of nitrogen and species on seed viability. The germination curve was determined for Kp with (Kp-WN) and without (Kp-NN) nitrogen, and for Kh without nitrogen (Kh-NN) using the probitmodel. This is characterized by the probability of germination in relation to time. The results of the average amount of cavities with one or more seedlings per endocarp were 26.4 and 15.8 % for the Kp-WN and Kp-NN groups, respectively; and 32.7 % for the Kh-NN group. Different germination speeds were observed between the study plants and between species, and the order was Kp-WN > Kp-NN > Kh-NN. The greatest amount of PA1 is obtained from the endocarps and testae of Karwinskiaseeds, and the endocarps with the greatest number of embryos have a greater number of testae. As a result, using the germination percentages it is possible to estimate the number of viable embryos and therefore the potential productivity of PA1, by only having better grain filling. Thus, the germination tests would be a way of obtaining evidence for the embryo content of the endocarps, and a parameter to consider for the selectivity of plants with high PA1 yield.

Keywords : Viability; Karwinskia parvifolia; Peroxisomicine; A1; Nitrogen.

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