Floral Biology and Breeding System of Orthosiphon aristatus (Blume) Miq. (Misai Kuching)

• Main Author: See, Wi Soon
• Format: Final Year Project Report
• Language: English
• Published: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, (UNIMAS) 2014
• Subjects: Q Science (General); QK Botany
• Online Access: http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/32411/2/See%20Wi%20Soon%28fulltext%29.pdf; http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/32411/

Orthosiphon aristatus is a perennial herb belongs to the mint family Lamiaceae. There are two varieties found in Malaysia, the white-corolla variety (OAV-1) and purple-corolla variety (OAV-2). Although they are highly similar on some vegetative characters, they are still potential to breed based on the presence of a few polymorphic vegetative characters. However, their breeding is obstructed due to limited information in floral biology, breeding system and polymorphic markers that able to assist in their breeding. Therefore, the lacked information has started to supplement through this study. As the speculation, the presence of bilabiate flower structure and higher stamen position were indicated the outcrossing mechanism in both varieties. But, they were preliminary observed as chasmogamous plant in flower development study, due to the release of pollens in pre-flowering stage. Thus, all the selected flower buds were emasculated in artificial pollination tests before pollens released. To minimize the failure risk in the F, seeds germination, the composition of coco peat and sand (1:l) was chosen based on the highest germination rate compared with other seven media used in 0. aristatus seed germination test. Predominantly selfpollination mechanism was speculated on both varieties based on the high success in F, selfing seeds formation. Unfortunately, the symptoms of cross-incompatibility were present in crossing tests among same variety and reciprocal cross. In markers development, Direct Amplification of Minisatellite DNA (DAMD) (molecular marker) and flavonoid (phytochemical marker) had revealed the high similarity between parental plants of the two varieties. A few of polymorphism markers obtained could be potential to validate the inheritance of F, hybrid progenies and their future breeding programs.