STUDIES ON PROPAGATION OF GLOBULARIA ALYPUM L.

Globularia alypum L. is an evergreen small shrub, native in Greece, bearing lilac-blue flowers in globose heads. It has the potential to be introduced as an ornamental plant in the urban and suburban landscape. Seeds collected in May were tested for germination five and 12 months after harvest, with or without the hull, in soil: peat: perlite (3:2:1 v/v), peat: perlite (1:1 v/v), Petri dishes on wet Whatman paper and in vitro on half strength MS medium, at 15, 20, 25 and 28°C, under 16 h photoperiod or in continuous darkness. Seeds with their hulls intact germinated at percentages lower than 37% in soil, peat, perlite, and perlite. The percentage of germination in Petri dishes was 43-55% at 15°C and gradually decreased with increasing temperature. Photoperiod did not affect germination. High germination percentage (90-94%) occurred only when well developed seeds without their hull were germinated in Petri dishes, at 15, 20 or 25°C. Seeds stored at room temperature retained their germination potential for at least 12 months after harvest. Tip cuttings (from current year shoots) and hardwood cuttings from the base of the shoot (from previous year shoots) collected in early- June, August and September were tested for their rooting ability after dipping their base in various concentrations of IBA-water solutions or IBA in talc before their placement in perlite or peat: perlite (1:1 v/v). Tip cuttings collected in August showed the highest rotting percentage (93%) in perlite when 0.2% (w/v) IBA in talc was applied at their base. Hardwood cuttings did not root in any treatment used.