Biology of seeds of some species of the genus valeriana and features of their introduction into culture in vitro

When developing technologies for growing species (introduction, in vitro culture, plantation cultivation) and the creation of seed banks, it is important to know the particularities of the types of dormancy of seeds of cultivated species, the ways of removing them from the rest state, the timing of the viability of the seeds. To measure the viability of the seeds of the Valeriana species of the Officinales series, laboratory and field germination, the characteristics of the biology of seeds during storage, and the features of their introduction in vitro have been studied. Seeds of different species of the genus Valeriana have different viability in culture and in natural soil conditions. Seeds of V. alternifolia retain viability for more than 3 years and have a maximum energy of seed germination in the first year. V. alternifolia is characterized by a damped wave-like curve of annual germination of seeds with peaks in the spring period. Valeriana alternifolia can be attributed to the group of mesobiotics, the species are able to form a short-term soil seeda bank. Freshly harvested V. wolgensis seeds are highly germinated and could germinate immediately after dissemination. When stored in the natural habitat soil, the seeds of this species retain their viability for two years, but this index naturally decreases by storage time. According to the indicators of viability of seeds, V. wolgensis can be attributed to a group of microbiotics, the species are not able to form a soil seeds bank. Seeds of V. dubia, V. officinalis, V. tuberosa after 5-6 years of storage in room conditions lose their vitality. In the conditions of culture, the viability of seeds and reproductive characteristics increase, the rate of growth and development of plants changes, the duration of ontogeny decreases, plants from a long-term life form pass into a biennial without vegetative propagation, the life strategies of species changes. It was found that the use of freshly harvested seeds of the examined species is optimal for introduction in vitro.