I PROCEEDINGS of an INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM
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PROCEEDINGS OF AN INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM AND WORKSHOP ON NATIE SEEDS IN RESTORATION OF DRYLAND ECOSYSTEMS NOVEMBER 20 – 23, 2017 STATE OF KUWAIT Organized by Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) International Network for Seed-based Restoration (INSR) Sponsored by Kuwait National Focal Point (KNFP) Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS) Islamic Development Bank (IDB) i PROCEEDINGS OF AN INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM AND WORKSHOP ON NATIE SEEDS IN RESTORATION OF DRYLAND ECOSYSTEMS NOVEMBER 20 – 23, 2017 2017 ii Disclaimer The contents provided in individual papers are the opinion of the author (s) and Editors and KISR hold no responsibility for views expressed. Submissions have been included in the e-version of the proceedings with only minor editing. However, these submissions will be subjected to in-depth technical review/ editing prior to their inclusion in the printed version of symposium proceedings. iii Table of Contents Preface ………………………..……………………………………..………… vii Symposium Committees ……………………………………………..………... ix Section 1: Native Plant Conservation and Selection 1 Assessing the Ex-situ Seed Bank Collections in Conservation of Endangered Native Plants in Kuwait. T. A. Madouh ……………………………………………………………..…... 2 Steps Towards In-situ Conservation for Threatened Plants in Egypt 10 K. A. Omar ………………………………………………………..…………... Conservation and Management of Prosopis cineraria (L) Druce in the State of Qatar. E. M. Elazazi, M. Seyd, R. Al-Mohannadi, M. Al-Qahtani, N. Shahsi, A. Al- 26 Kuwari and M. Al-Marri …………………………………………….………….. The Lonely Tree of Kuwait. 38 M. K. Suleiman, N. R. Bhat, S. Jacob and R. Thomas ……..…………………. Species Restoration Through Ex situ Conservation: Role of Native Seeds in Reclaiming Lands and Environment. S. Saifan …………………………………………………….…………………… 49 Conservation of Native Germplasm Through Seed Banking In the United Arab Emirates: Implications for Seed-Based Restoration S. Gairola …………………………………………………….………………….. 58 Role of ISSR Markers for Conservation of Rhanterium eppaposum Oliv. in Kuwait. N. Habibi and F. Al-Slameen ……………………………….…………………….. 69 Kuwait Oil Company: Remediation and Rehabilitation of Existing Pits and Contaminated Soil in the KOC Fields. F. Naqi ………………..……………………………….…………………….. 75 Phytochemical Composition and Antifungal Potential of Ethanolic Seed Extract from Citrullus colocynthis Native to Kuwait. Sheikh Shreaz and N. R. Bhat ………………………….……………………... 83 National Conservation Efforts of Socioeconomic Plant Genetic Resources in Oman – Issues of Climate Change Impact on Dryland Ecosystem and plant diversity Disruptions 96 Ali Al-Lawati …………………………………………………………………….. iv Section 2: Collection, Processing and Storage of Seeds 118 Overcoming Seed Challenges to Address Landscape Restoration Needs in Lebanon and Jordan. K. Bouazza, M. Nsour, K. Sleem and A. S. Davis …………………….………... 119 Section 3: Seed Germination and Seedling Production 129 The USA National Seed Strategy and Regional Native Plant Programs: Progress and Challenges. N. Shaw and P. Olwell ……………………………………………………………. 130 Seed Quality Testing of Native Species 138 R. R. Thomas, S. Jacob, M. K. Suleiman and N. R. Bhat ………………………... Ecophysiological Requirement for the Germination of Stipagrostis ciliata Desf. Candidate Species for Ecological Restoration in Arid Environment. L. Mnif and M. Chaieb ………………………….……………………………… 148 Rhanterium Seed Biology and Germination Study for Large-Scale Plant Production. L. Al-Sabah, C. Sudhersan, S. Jibi and S. Al-Melhem …………….…………… 155 Effects of Planting Techniques on Seedling Establishment in Native Species for Sustainable Revegetation. S. Jacob, M. K. Suleiman, R. R. Thomas, N. R. Bhat and M. Sivadasan ….….... 161 Effect of Seeding Methods on Seedling Establishment of Mangroves in Kuwait. 167 B. M. Thomas, N. R. Bhat, M. K. Suleiman and L. Al-Mulla ………………….. High Value By-products Obtained During Native Seed Collection and Processing. S. Al-Melhem, C. Sudhersan, S. Jibi and L. Al- Sabah ……………….………... 176 Effects of Storage on Germinability of Kuwait's Native Seeds. 181 O. Al-Saeed, A. Al-Roumi, N. R. Bhat and A. Bhatt …………………….……... A Comparative Study of Seed Germination in Some Perennial Native Species in Kuwait. L. Almulla …………………………………………………………….………… 185 Understanding the Seed Germination and Adaptation Strategies of Selected Desert Plants and its Implications to Vegetation Restoration. A. Bhatt, N. R. Bhat, M. K. Suleiman, T. M. Thomas and S. Mathew …….…… 190 v Effects of Using Infra-Red Reflective Covering Material on Greenhouse Environment for Plant Production. H. E. Al-Mansour, N. R. Bhat, B. M. Thomas and M. S. Albaho ……….……… 199 Sction 4: Seed Farming 212 Native Seed Production and Processing under Very Dry Conditions: Seed Farming as a Tool to Improve Seed Availability. Candido Galvez-Ramirez …………………………………………….…………. 213 Immature Seed Culture Technique an Alternative Method for the Mass Production of Native Shrubs. C. Sudhersan, S. Jibi, L. Al-Sabah and S. Al-Melhem ………….………………... 222 Responses of Peganum harmala L. to Different Types and Levels of Irrigation for Restoration of Desert Landscapes in Kuwait. M. A. Islam, S. Jacob, N. R. Bhat, M. K. Suleiman and R.R. Thomas ………….. 227 Section 5: Seed-based Restoration of Dryland Ecosystems 233 Utilization of Desert Rodents in Dispersal of Native Seeds: Potential Role in Restoring Damaged Drylands. M. Al-Mutairi ……………………………………………….…………………….. 234 Role of Management Practices for Successful Restoration of Degraded Ecosystems: A Case Study of Pastoral Ecosystem in Eastern Morocco. T. M. Sghir and A. Mohamed …………………………….………………………. 243 vi Preface Kuwait‘s Native flora comprising 256 annual, 83 herbaceous perennial, 34 shrubs and one tree species is of significant scientific and economic value as it contains genes that impart resistance to major abiotic stresses such as drought, heat and salinity and contain several bioactive molecules with great potential for medicinal and agricultural applications. These plants are distributed in six terrestrial ecosystems, namely, coastal plain and lowland, desert plain and lowland, alluvial fan, escarpment, ridge and hilly, wadi and depression, and burchan sand dune. Each of these ecosystems hosts a dominant plant species with several associated species. Natural events (prolonged droughts, strong winds, dust storms and unexpected weather events) and human activities (overgrazing, off-road traffic movement, gravel quarrying, irrigated agriculture development, etc.) have resulted in deterioration of vegetation cover in Kuwait. The Iraqi invasion of Kuwait and subsequent military activities have fast- tracked the land degradation process and vegetation loss, disrupted natural plant succession process, caused widespread contamination of soil with chemical pollutants, and substantial changes in physical and chemical soil properties. For several decades, the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) is actively engaged in the characterization of terrestrial ecosystems, propagation of native plants, and restoration of drylands ecosystems impacted by many of the above causes. Additionally, KISR has successfully restored the Rhanterium epapposum community at its study site in the southwest of Kuwait (Kabd). Findings of these studies are being used in executing large-scale remediation and restoration projects, known as the Kuwait Environment Remediation Program (KERP) covering almost 1670 km2. This program relies heavily on ecological restoration of damaged areas as this approach using native seeds and plants. Recently, the State of Kuwait has developed the Kuwait Vision for 2035 which relies on achieving balanced economic and human development based on conservation and sustainable utilization of natural resources. Acknowledging the alarming rate of degradation of terrestrial ecosystems and its eminent potential for extinction of several of Kuwait‘s unique flora and fauna, the Kuwait Vision for 2035 places significant emphasis on the development of suitable management strategies for conservation and sustainable utilization of native biodiversity. In this regard, KISR in cooperation with the Ministry of Planning has initiated a government initiative project to develop techniques and establish facilities for mass production of seeds and desert plants. Ecological Restoration of damaged ecosystems has become truly multi-disciplinary international effort and its success requires an integrated approach. While restoration and management of ecosystems face several challenges, it also presents opportunities for cooperation in research, and implementation of large-scale restoration and community outreach programs. This also requires appropriate policies and their timely enforcement. Most countries in the region are also faced with similar challenges in conserving and managing native biodiversity. Because restoration projects are long-term, highly resource intensive activities, exchange of ideas and sharing of experiences among experts, restoration practitioners, and policy makers will vii undoubtedly be of great value in ensuring success of such projects. In view of these facts, KISR in cooperation with the International Network for Seed Based Restoration (INSR) of the Society for Ecological Restoration (SER) jointly organized the ―International Symposium and Workshop on Native Seed in Restoration of Dryland Ecosystems‖ in Kuwait from November 20 - 23, 2017. The symposium was a great success because of the encouragement and financial support from our sponsors (Kuwait National Focal Point, Kuwait Foundation for