Seed conservation of Begonia spp. from West Sumatra, Indonesia

Abstract

Abstract Begonia collections in Indonesian Botanic Gardens are a source of germplasm for ornamental plants, foods, and future medicinal plants. Seed exploration activity was focused on the West Sumatra area to increase the representation of Begonia collections at the Indonesian Botanic Gardens’s Seed Bank. It will accommodate collection numbers and genetic variation. The purpose of this study was to collect seeds and living collections of the Sumatran Begonia species, mainly from West Sumatra. Beside that, this study aimed to identify the storage characteristics of Begonia seeds in the Seed Bank. The research method was carried out exploratory and investigated in several districts of West Sumatra. From the explorations, we collected 27 species of Begonias from five districts, namely Solok, Sijunjung, Tanah Datar, Lima Puluh Kota, and West Pasaman. The most Begonia species were found in Solok Regency (25%). We found those Begonias in the vegetative and generative phases. About 76.67% of the plants found produce flowers. Some plants were producing fruit (60%). Begonia habitat is generally a humid area (karst cliffs, caves, streams, forest floors and wet rocks). Furthermore, the characteristics of 30 Begonias, types of seeds, and its storage, also associated plants around Begonia will be described in this paper.