The experiment of the germination and growing of endangered species such as such as Euryale ferox, and the environmental education through those work study.

2005 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary

• Project/Area Number: 16530603
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Education on school subjects and activities
• Research Institution: Saga University
• Principal Investigator: MYAWAKI Hiromi Saga University, Faculty of Culture & Education, Professor, 文化教育学部, 教授 (70190824)
• Project Period (FY): 2004 – 2005
• Keywords: Euryale ferox / Hometown learing / Endangered species / Work study / Environmental education / Germination condition / Water plant / Growing experiment

Research Abstract

Euryale ferox, the only species in the genus, is a very large water lily covered with numerous spines on all surfaces. Euryale ferox used to be a harmful plant for farmers who cultivating rice field in Japan. This plant is considered to be relic species and in a fix of the extinction in some areas of Asia as well as Japan. They considered it is difficult to cultivate this species. But I try to cultivate this species for teaching materials. I collected wild Euryale ferox at Saga city, south part of Japan in August-September 2003. After 2 months of cultivation, I succeed to get 549 pieces of seeds. By using those seeds, I tried to study the conditions of sprout of Euryale ferox. Seeds need to store in water to prevent sprout. After cold processing (12C 30 days) and removing the operculum, 13.3% seeds of Euryale ferox sprout at room temperature and higher (20-26C). On the other hand, without cold processing no seeds could not sprout. With cold processing, without removing the operculum 10% seeds sprouted. My experiment revealed it is not impossible for school teachers and students to use this plant for teaching materials.