Effect of Seed Source Variation on Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels. Seedlings Growth in Ciamis District, West Java Province

Abstract

Syzygium cumini included in the family Myrtaceae is one type of plant that is hard to find. The benefits of S. cumini plants include seeds as a cure for diabetes, fruit as an antioxidant and anticancer, fruit skin as a medicine for dysentery and leaves as a reinforcement of teeth and gums. This research aimed to study the effect of seed population sources on the growth of S. cumini seedling. Seed exploration was carried out in 3 different S. cumini habitats, (1) Gunungkidul District (2) Yogyakarta District and (3) Cikampek District. CRD (Complete Random Design) was used with each population consisting of three replications (50 seeds/replication). The seed source showed significantly different results on the growth of S. cumini seedlings (height, diameter, number of leaves, wet weight of stem and leaves and dry weight of stem and leaves). However, the variation of seed sources did not significantly differ on survival, root wet mean, root dry weight, top-root ratio and seed quality index. Height, diameter, number of leaves, comparison starting from the greatest were Gunungkidul (30.42 cm / 2.93 mm / 21.42), Cikampek (24.64 cm / 2.82 mm / 21.06) and Yogyakarta (21.27 cm / 2.45 mm / 19.27). While The stem and leaves wet weight and stem and leaf biomass comparison from the highest were Gunungkidul (6.84 gram, 2.10 gram), Yogyakarta (4.95 gram / 1.59 gram) and Cikampek (4.24 gram / 1.47 gram). Moreover, seeds from the Gunungkidul population produced better growth than other populations. This study's recommendation is to develop rare plants of S. cumini species that will have the best growth by using seeds from the Gunungkidul