Productivity and morphometric parameters of <em>Myrrhis odorata</em> (L.) Scop. seeds in the conditions of the Moscow region

Abstract

The research was carried out in 2018 – 2022 at the Experimental Production Farm “Bykovo” AllRussian Research Institute of Vegetable Growing - a branch of the FSBSI “FSCVG” (Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution “Federal Scientific Center for Vegetable Growing”). The pilot site is located in the Ramenskoye district of the Moscow Region in the floodplain of the Moscow River. The object was Myrris scented, a representative of the Umbrella family (Umbelliferae). The genus Myrrhis includes the single species Myrrhis odorata (L.) SCOP. The Myrrhis plantation was laid out in 2009. The plot size is 8 m2, on which 20 plants are located at the rate of 2.5 pcs. / m2. Care consisted of loosening, manual weeding and 1-2 watering. Fruit harvesting was carried out at the onset of the first frost. The seeds were harvested by hand and matured 1.5 – 2 months after harvesting. The seed length (using a calliper), endosperm and embryo (using a microscope and a video eyepiece) were measured in four repetitions of 30 seeds each. The indices IE/S (Embryo/Seed), IE/E (Embryo /Endosperm) and IE/S (Endosperm/Seed) were calculated, showing the ratios of these indicators. Embryo/seed, Embryo /endosperm, and Endosperm/seed Depending on the year, the seed productivity was 13.6 – 27.3 g/plant, and the estimated yield was 339.1 – 682.0 kg/hectare. The seeds of Myrris scented had a fairly large size (16.75 - 22.23 mm) but contained a tiny embryo (1.24 - 1.99 mm), which was only 6-11% of the seed length and 7-13% of the endosperm. In comparison with other representatives of the umbrella family, Myrris scented has one of the lowest values of the index IE/E (Embryo /Endosperm). According to this indicator, its seeds should be attributed to the last fifth class. It is a tiny embryo that is one of the reasons for the phenomenon of rest inherent in the sources of myrrh scented. Furthermore, the seeds have a large percentage (10.0 – 73.3) of the phenomenon of germ-free, one of the causes of which is damage to the striped shield (Graphosoma lineatum L.).