Flower and Seed Size Effects on Cyclamen persicum Germination, Tuberization, Rooting, and Seedling Health

Abstract

Cyclamen persicum Mill. is an important ornamental potted species for which reliable seedling establishment is essential to commercial production. This study evaluated the effects of contrasting flower-associated seed sizes on germination, tuber formation, root development, and seedling health under controlled Petri-dish conditions. Two groups were compared: large seeds obtained from a small-flowered cultivar and small seeds obtained from a large-flowered cultivar. Four replicates of 12 seeds per group were monitored weekly for eight weeks. Germination was defined by hypocotyl emergence, while visible tuber and root development were recorded weekly; seedling health was scored at week 8 on a five-point scale. By week 8, germination reached 37.5% in large seeds and 68.8% in small seeds, with the difference becoming significant from week 5 onwards. Tuber development also favoured small seeds, reaching 58.4% compared with 37.5% in large seeds by week 8. Root development was higher in small seeds (52.1% versus 33.3% at week 8), although the difference was not statistically significant. In contrast, seedlings from large seeds had a higher mean health score than those from small seeds (3.5 versus 2.3). These findings indicate that seed size was associated with different early developmental responses: small seeds showed higher germination and tuber-development rates, whereas large seeds produced healthier seedlings under the conditions tested.