Vegetos
(An International Journal of Plant Research & Biotechnology)
Comparative study of seeds biometric and germinative characteristics of four Moroccan wild Mentha species
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Research Articles | Published: 13 June, 2025
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Keywords: n Menthan , Germination, Seed characteristics, Endemism, Provenance
Abstract
The study aimed to evaluate seed germination and compare seed biometric traits (size and seed weight) of five Moroccan Mentha taxa: Mentha gattefossei (MG), M. longifolia (ML), M. suaveolens ssp. suaveolens (MSS), M. suaveolens ssp. timija (MST) and M. pulegium (MP). The germination experiment was conducted at a constant temperature of 24 °C with a 12/12 h light/dark photoperiod. The results revealed highly significant interspecific differences in all evaluated parameters (p < 0.001) with ANOVA indicating particularly strong differences among both germination and biometric traits. Seed length ranged from 0.608 mm (MSS) to 0.769 mm (MP), while seed width varied from 0.419 mm (MP) to 0.540 mm (MST). Thousand seed weight was lowest in MSS and MST (0.057–0.058 g), and highest in MG (0.113 g). Final germination percentage (FGP) ranged from 4.83% (MG) to 59.5% (ML), with MG showing significantly lower germination than all other taxa (p < 0.05). Germination index (GI) and mean germination time (MGT) also varied significantly among taxa. MP exhibited the fastest germination (MGT = 6.26 days), while MSS had the slowest (MGT = 12.76 days). Notably, MP, MSS and MST showed significant site-dependent variability for several germination traits, whereas MG and ML species did not exhibit significant differences based on seed origin. These preliminary findings provide valuable insights for domestication and ecological restoration of Moroccan Mentha species. However, further research is needed to improve the germination performance, particularly for the rare endemic species M. gattefossei.
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Author Information
Centre for Plant and Microbial Biotechnologies, Biodiversity and Environment, Faculty of Sciences, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Rabat, Morocco