First Experiences with Seabuckthorn Multiplication in
Bolivia
Alejandro Bonifacio
(Quinoa Project, Proinpa Foundation)
Abstract
:
Research has been carried out to introduce seabuckthorn to the dry highlands of Bolivia,
South America. The research was divided in three parts such as seed treatment, plant multiplication,
and plant performance in nursery and in rural communities. The genetic material was provided by
International Centre for Research and Training on Seabuckthorn, People's Republic of China, and the
Benson Institute of Brigham Young University, USA, funded the research. Seabuckthorn seeds were
soaked for 72 hours. After that, seeds were put in six kinds of stratification treatments and seed
germination percentage was recorded. Germinating seeds were sown in a sand bench. Seedlings
were potted in black plastic bags. Finally, soft and hardwood cuttings were put in sand rooting media.
Seed germination initiated 24 hours after sowing in stratification units and differences were found
in seed germination percentage between species and sub-species of seabuckthorn. A high
percentage of seed germination has been recorded for the stratification unit with sand where seeds
were isolated in cotton cloths. The best substrate to get seedlings of seabuckthorn is sand with low
content of organic matter. 6 to 8 months old seedlings potted in black plastic bags already had
nitrogen nodules formed in roots, demonstrating the presence of local rhizobium to fix nitrogen. In
addition, shoot cuttings generated hundreds of plantlets.
As a first experience in the field, plantlets of 10 months were planted in rural communities where
plant growth was more or less slow. However, a previous plant introduction made by the Benson
Institute at the Patacamaya research station set fruits in April 1998. These preliminary results show
that seabuckthorn can be introduced successfully in the highlands of Bolivia.
Agrobiological Value of Some Seabuckthorn (Hippophae
rhamnoides var. carpatica) Varieties and Selections
Paulina Mladin, Gh. Mladin, Maria Radulescu, and Viorica Chitu
(Fruit Research Institute Pitesti-Maracineni, 0300 Pitesti, Arges, Romania)
Abstract
: Following expeditionary studies in the wild flora of the southeastern Romanian Carpathian
Mountains, more than 40 biotypes in situ were identified. They were collected for a small "ex situ"
collection at the Fruit Research Institute Pitesti-Maracineni. The most promising were vegetatively
propagated and planted in a trial plot. Results show the variability of the main traits within those
selections, including biochemical and mineral fruit content in dynamic evaluation during ripening and
over-ripening.
M
ost studies were focused on characteristics of the fruit (size, colour, weight, shape, pedicel length)
to identify those selections with easier fruit picking characteristics by hand or by shaking. The
selections were divided into 3 groups by fruit color: orange, yellow and reddish and 3 groups by fruit
size: large (0.33-0.54 g), medium (0.20-0.32 g) and small (0.10-0.19 g). The orange color, medium
size and oval shape were dominant, 88%, 46% and 68%, respectively.
The most valuable and promising were:
Ø
Serpeni-11 selection released in 1983 as Moldova cv.: very productive and precocious (8-10
kg/plant in the third year after planting), vigorous, thorny plants, large berries (0.50-0.54 g) of
cylindrical shape, long pedicel (3-4 mm), easy shaking in late autumn (70%-80% fruits running-
off by shaking or vibration),
