**2.2 Plants multiplication**

BFP and SSS are commonly known species that are cultivated as ornamental tropical plants; however, no selection of the promising biotype with medicinal properties has been attempted. As a consequence, there is a lack of improved cultivars, and there are many difficulties in processing and marketing new crops.

Mature fruits were collected from specimens cultivated in the Botanical Garden, INTA (BFP) in March 2017 and from plant populations growing at different altitudes of the dry land forest in Salta province, northwestern Argentina, in March–April 2017 and from specimens cultivated in the Botanical Garden, INTA (SSS) in April 2017. The fruits of both species were packed in paper bags and transported to the laboratory, where they were thoroughly cleaned and stored in paper bags until the start of the experiments. The seeds were stored in cloth bags under room conditions (20–23°C and 50–75% relative humidity). Most experiments were conducted when the seeds were less than 1 year old (**Figure 1**). Only fully developed, undamaged seeds previously conditioned and disinfected were used for germination experiments: approximately 1000 seeds were mechanically scarified using fine sandpaper (**Figure 2**). The germination test was carried out in May with seeds previously hydrated for 24/48 hours [53]. The experiments were conducted at a constant temperature of 20°C in the greenhouse. Seeds were planted in soil in large pots (6 cm diameter × 10 cm height) and multi-celled plastic plug-trays: cell length 40 mm, width 41 mm, and depth 50 mm. The substrate mixture used was 70% sifted soil, 15% sand, and 15% perlite (**Figure 3**). The seeds were covered with 5 mm of substrate (**Figure 4**).

### **2.3 Preliminary results of adaptation**

Seeds with 2-mm long radicles were considered germinated. Seedling emergence and height were recorded after 45 days.

In BFP: mechanical scarification increased germination (from 0.4 plants/day in non-scarified seeds to 1.2 plants/day in treated seeds); after 28 days, the percentage of germination was 15% for nonscarified seeds to 86% for scarified seeds. Therefore, scarification favored seedling uniformity (**Figure 5**).

#### *Legume Crops – Characterization and Breeding for Improved Food Security*

**Figure 1.** *Mature seeds.*

**Figure 2.** *Seeds scarified and hydrated.*

SSS: plants emerged after 3–9 days, and 65% of plants germinated; the minimum and maximum temperatures were controlled. No frost damage was recorded, with the absolute minimum being 13°C. Planting was performed at the end of autumn, in a greenhouse with an automatic convection heating system. The seedlings (60 days

**13**

**Figure 4.**

*Multi-celled plastic plugs.*

**Figure 3.** *Substrate mixture.*

*Novel Therapeutic Uses of Legume Crops in Southern South America*

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.85659*

*Novel Therapeutic Uses of Legume Crops in Southern South America DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.85659*

**Figure 3.** *Substrate mixture.*

*Legume Crops – Characterization and Breeding for Improved Food Security*

SSS: plants emerged after 3–9 days, and 65% of plants germinated; the minimum and maximum temperatures were controlled. No frost damage was recorded, with the absolute minimum being 13°C. Planting was performed at the end of autumn, in a greenhouse with an automatic convection heating system. The seedlings (60 days

**12**

**Figure 2.**

*Seeds scarified and hydrated.*

**Figure 1.** *Mature seeds.*

**Figure 4.** *Multi-celled plastic plugs.*

**Figure 5.** *Seedling.*

**Figure 6.** Senna spectabilis *transplanted in individual pots.*

**15**

plants (**Figure 7**).

**Figure 9.**

**Figure 8.** *Planting scheme.*

using R (www.r-project.org).

*Novel Therapeutic Uses of Legume Crops in Southern South America*

old) were transplanted into individual pots: **Figure 6** (8 cm diameter × 19 cm

BFP: to test the propagation and management of plants that were already initially adapted, in September 2018, 3-year-old specimens were collected from Los Robles Park, Moreno, Buenos Aires (34°40′12.2″S 58°51′21.8″W). Those specimens were planted in spring 2015 with seeds from the established mother

At the time of transplanting, the plants did not have leaves, since in the province of Buenos Aires, the species behaves as semi-tropical, due to the low winter temperatures (average minimum temperature 8°C). The specimens were approximately 1.52 m tall and 0.65 cm in diameter. Planting scheme was 8 plants/plot, 2 m between plants and 2 m between lines (**Figure 9**), in a randomized complete block design

height). They were ready for planting out 4–5 months later.

Bauhinia forficata *subsp.* pruinosa*: annual growth post-transplant.*

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.85659*

**Figure 7.** Bauhinia forficata *subsp.* pruinosa*: specimens planted.*

*Novel Therapeutic Uses of Legume Crops in Southern South America DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.85659*

**Figure 8.** *Planting scheme.*

*Legume Crops – Characterization and Breeding for Improved Food Security*

**14**

**Figure 7.**

**Figure 6.**

**Figure 5.** *Seedling.*

Senna spectabilis *transplanted in individual pots.*

Bauhinia forficata *subsp.* pruinosa*: specimens planted.*

#### **Figure 9.**

Bauhinia forficata *subsp.* pruinosa*: annual growth post-transplant.*

old) were transplanted into individual pots: **Figure 6** (8 cm diameter × 19 cm height). They were ready for planting out 4–5 months later.

BFP: to test the propagation and management of plants that were already initially adapted, in September 2018, 3-year-old specimens were collected from Los Robles Park, Moreno, Buenos Aires (34°40′12.2″S 58°51′21.8″W). Those specimens were planted in spring 2015 with seeds from the established mother plants (**Figure 7**).

At the time of transplanting, the plants did not have leaves, since in the province of Buenos Aires, the species behaves as semi-tropical, due to the low winter temperatures (average minimum temperature 8°C). The specimens were approximately 1.52 m tall and 0.65 cm in diameter. Planting scheme was 8 plants/plot, 2 m between plants and 2 m between lines (**Figure 9**), in a randomized complete block design using R (www.r-project.org).

At present, survival, annual shoot growth, and different phenological stages post-transplanting are being monitored (**Figures 8** and **9**).
