Seed Germination | Micropropagation | Sexual Characteristics | DNA Barcoding | Nursery Management
Seed Germination (Sexual Propagation) for Aquilaria malaccensis, useful for both conservation and plantation-scale seedling production programs.
1. Seed Source & Collection
- Harvest time: 4–6 weeks after flowering; collect fruits before full dehiscence.
- Fruits turn brown and split open, releasing seeds with white arils.
- Viable seeds are brown-black, plump, and sink in water.
2. Seed Handling
- Aril removal: Manually remove the fleshy aril as it inhibits germination.
- Storage: Seeds are recalcitrant — lose viability within 1–2 weeks at room temp.
- For short-term storage, keep seeds in moist sphagnum moss at 15–20°C.
- Best practice: sow immediately after harvest.
3. Pre-sowing Treatment
- Sterilization (optional for nursery):
- Dip in 1% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) for 5 minutes.
- Rinse with clean water 2–3 times.
- Fungicide soak: 0.1% Bavistin or Captan for 30 minutes to prevent damping-off.
4. Sowing Conditions
- Medium: Sterilized river sand, vermiculite, or fine compost-sand mix (1:1).
- Sowing depth: 1.5–2 cm
- Spacing: 2–3 cm apart in germination trays or beds
- Environment:
- Shaded nursery (30–50% shade net)
- Moist but well-drained medium
- Daily misting or overhead watering
5. Germination Timeline
- Germination onset: 5–10 days
- Germination rate: 60–90% (depending on seed freshness and handling)
- Seedling establishment: Cotyledons emerge ~7 days post-germination
6. Transplanting & Nursery Care
- Prick out at 2–3 leaf stage (around 3–4 weeks)
- Transfer to polybags (6×9 inch) with loam soil, compost, and sand (2:1:1)
- Water daily, apply organic liquid fertilizer weekly
- Ready for outplanting at 3–6 months (30–45 cm height)
Notes:
- Sex is indeterminate in seedlings unless identified via molecular markers.
- Genetic diversity is preserved, unlike clonal propagation.
- Seedling variability can affect agarwood yield and quality — hence ideal for biodiversity conservation, rootstock development, or cross-breeding programs.