The Effect of Different Pollination Methods on Seed Yield and Germination Features in Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni

Abstract

Pollination is a prerequisite system for reproductive of many plants and it is more important in self-compatible plants. Since, these plants need other flowers pollen for flower fertilization and seed production. In this study, the effects of different pollination methods (open/cross pollination, self-pollination with hand and control) on some features associated with seed production in Stevia rebaudiana were investigated. Stevia which belongs to the Asteraceae family and is used as sweetener has a self-incompatibility problem. In the experiment, ten plants which were planted in a row were covered with net in the field condition and five of them were selfed with hand pollination and remaining 5 plants were left as it is. Furthermore, five uncovered plants were left to cross-pollination by insects. At the end of the experiment, seed yield per plant, 1000 seed weight, black/filled seed rate, number of day to first germination and germination rate were determined in harvested seeds. According to the results, cross-pollination was more superior in respect to all features in Stevia. This status shows that insect population (especially bee) must be present in Stevia fields for successful seed production.

Pollination is a prerequisite system for reproductive of many plants and it is more important in self-compatible plants. Since, these plants need other flowers pollen for flower fertilization and seed production. In this study, the effects of different pollination methods (open/cross pollination, self-pollination with hand and control) on some features associated with seed production in Stevia rebaudiana were investigated. Stevia which belongs to the Asteraceae family and is used as sweetener has a self-incompatibility problem. In the experiment, ten plants which were planted in a row were covered with net in the field condition and five of them were selfed with hand pollination and remaining 5 plants were left as it is. Furthermore, five uncovered plants were left to cross-pollination by insects. At the end of the experiment, seed yield per plant, 1000 seed weight, black/filled seed rate, number of day to first germination and germination rate were determined in harvested seeds. According to the results, cross-pollination was more superior in respect to all features in Stevia. This status shows that insect population (especially bee) must be present in Stevia fields for successful seed production.