Propagation studies in Farsetia aegyptia Turra

Majda Khalil Suleiman*, Narayana Ramachandra Bhat, Mehdi Saleh Abdal,   Sameeha Zaman, Sheena Jacob and Rini Rachel Thomas

Arid land Agriculture and Greenery Department, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research,

P. O. Box 24885, 13109 Safat, Kuwait.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: mkhalil@safat.kisr.edu.kw.

Accepted 23 November, 2009

Abstract

Native plants are key components of the global biological diversity, and are highly adapted to the local environmental and climatic conditions. As Kuwait’s native plants are threatened in their natural habitat and have begun to disappear at an alarming rate, their use in landscape projects will help in conserving biodiversity and heritage. Farsetia aegyptia Turra. is a grey green, exceedingly rare woody perennial with potential to adapt to urban landscape conditions. In this study, efforts were made to standardize the techniques for mass propagation of F. aegyptia. Results indicated that pre-treating F. aegyptia seeds with 1000 ppm (78%), 750 ppm (77%), and 500 ppm (76%)  GA₃ was effective in enhancing the germination, compared to the control (49%).

Key words: Urban landscape, greenery development, bio-diversity, conservation of native plants, Farsetia aegyptia.