Breaking Seed Dormancy in Corchorus olitorius Landraces

Molokhia (Corchorus olitorius), a member of the Linden family (Tiliaceae), is a leafy, green, summer vegetable and medicinal plant served as a traditional dish in the Middle East, and parts of Asia and Africa. In addition to phenolics, polysaccharides, carotenoids, vitamins B1, B2, C, and E, minerals, sugars, and protein, the plant contains cardiac glycosides, such as erysimoside, olitoriside, corchoroside A, and helveticoside of potential use in the treatment of cardiovascular problems. Other medicinal constituents include amyrin derivatives, cycloartane-type glycosides, flavonoids, cycloartane triterpene saponins, depressosides E and F, and two kaempferol glycosides (depressonols A and B). Molokhia is consumed as a general folk remedy for treatment of aches, pains, and swelling and the leaves are used for treatment of ascites, cystitis, dysentery, dysuria, fever, gonorrhea, pectoral pains, piles, tumors, thick mucus, and female infertility. A cold infusion is said to restore appetite and strength. Unfortunately, low seed germination rates for the plants limits production of high value varieties. In this study, four molokhia landraces (Banihomail, Depono, Falahy, and Saeedy) collected from several locations in Egypt were subjected to various treatments, including light (white, dark, red, and far red) water soaks (at a temperature 5, 30, 50, and 80°C for 10, 20, and 30 min), and sulfuric acid (concentration of 80, 90, and 100% for 15 and 30 min) to determine if germination could be enhanced. The best results were with Banihomil following treatment with sulfuric acid at 90% for 30 min (germination increased from 1 to 84%). Germination also increased in Banihomil with increasing the soaking temperature, but this treatment decreased germination in the other landraces. Treatment of seed with HCl, hydrogen peroxide, liquid nitrogen, and light had no effect on seed germination. Acknowledgements: This material is based upon work supported by the Cooperative State Research Extension, Education Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Massachusetts Experiment Station, and the Department of Plant, Soil, and Insect Sciences, University of Massachusetts and the New England Unit of the Herb Society of America.