Abstract
We examined the rooting of viviparous seeds of Kandelia candel planted at different depths, as a part of the basic studies aiming at mass production of seedlings for efficient afforestation of mangroves. Shoot elongation of the viviparous seeds was promoted by increasing the depth of planting, which is in agreement with previous reports on the rooting of deeply planted cuttings of Viburnum awabuki and Prunus persica. However, in the lower part of the viviparous seeds where the root primordia existed before planting, the depth of planting influenced neither the part nor the number of rootings. On the other hand, in the upper part of the viviparous seeds where the root primordia appeared after planting, the rooting part was expanded and the number of rootings increased by deep planting. These results suggest that the contact of the upper part of the viviparous seeds with the culture medium at the time of planting stimulated the formation of root primordia in the upper part. In addition, no rooting part was found at approximately 2 cm between the upper part and lower part.
