Germination profile of selected plants from Mauritius – towards a conservation strategy

Selected endemic Mauritian plants, Cossinia pinnata, Dracaena concinna, Erythroxylum sideroxyloides, Fernelia buxifolia and Lomatophyllum purpureum were assessed for germination based on the classification of embryo type, imbibition experiments, optimum temperature for germination (15 to 35°C), light conditions and the use of germination promoters (butenolide and gibberellic acid, GA₃). Germination was between 62 and 79%. Most species responded positively to germination promoting treatments, under both light and dark conditions. These results demonstrate that the five species are typical of tropical seeds. They do not express physical dormancy and have the ability to germinate over a very wide range of normal physical environmental factors. The present study can be used to optimise storage methods and enable effective seed banking of these threatened species.