Vegetative and reproductive propagation of water chestnut, trapa sp.

Ganeson, Menaka (2008) Vegetative and reproductive propagation of water chestnut, trapa sp. [Project Paper] (Submitted)

Text lp FSPM 2008 28.pdf Download (6MB)

Abstract

The water chestnut, Trapa sp. is an annual, floating leaved aquatic plant and a valuable food crop. In this study the morphology, seed germination and propagation of Trapa sp. were determined for two samples imported from Hong Kong (MDS supermarket) and China (Farley supermarket). Based on morphology the Trapa plants from both locations were identified as Trapa bispinosa Roxb. The leaves arc dimorphic which the floating and submerged leaves. The floating leaves are alternate and in terminal rosette. The floating leaf comprises leaf blade, petiole, and inflated swollen petiole. The length and width of leaf blade, petiole and inflated petiole are distinctly different for both samples. Trapa plants from Hong Kong are consistently wider and lengthier than China. The leaf blades are broadly ovate, dentate and rhomboid with prominent veins, serrated at leaf margin, and finely divided into two. The upper leaf blades are glossy bright green and below surface are pale green in colour with leathery. The submerged leaves are opposite, root like and found in 1-2 pairs per node at the stem. The stems are long, submerged, green in colour and 1.81-2.30 mm in diameter. Two types of roots were determined. The anchoring roots are branched and form in 3-12 clusters below hypocotyl. The reddish-brown unbranched roots formed at the upper part of internodes. The flowers are hemapherodite, solitary, hairy peduncle, with 4 white petals, 4 stamens and I rounded stigma. The fruits are indehcsient with two horns. Seeds are unequal in size. Seven germination stages were recognized. The first sign of germination stages was emergence of cotyledon at the fruit apex. This followed by emergence of hypocotyls, emergence of plumule, formation of roots on hypocotyl, formation of roots below hypocotyls, development of shoot and young seedling and seed detachment from the seedling. The seeds from both locations took a range of 39-59 days to accomplish the seven germination stages. The life cycle with the eventual death of plants took 3-5 months. The stem cutting propagation only reached matured stage and the life cycle was about 2 months.

Item Type:	Project Paper
Subjects:	S Agriculture > S Agriculture (General)
Faculty:	Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences
Depositing User:	Ms. Hairoon Juhaili
Date Deposited:	11 May 2026 01:38
Last Modified:	11 May 2026 01:38
URI:	http://psaspb.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/2748

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