Comparative Study of Length and Growth Rate of Ramie (Boehmeria nivea L. Gaut.) Bast Fiber of Indonesian Clones

Abstract

The Present research was conducted on five clones of ramie (Boehmeria nivea L.Gaud.) found in West Sumatra and several other clones from Java. The research objective was to compare the growth,  number of fibers per bundles, length and the time until fibers are matured enough for harvesting. The ramie planting was done in Andalas University’s Padang experimental field station from June to October 2016. Microscopic investigation and fiber analysis were carried out in the laboratory of Plant Development and Structure, Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Science, Andalas University, Padang, Indonesia. The clones investigated were Bandung A, Indochina, Lembang A, Padang 3, and Ramindo.  The numbers of fibers per fiber bundle were highest in the Ramindo clone at 69 cell/bundle and the least in Bandung A clone at 40 cell/bundle. The type of fiber  was 48% type I, 36% type II and 16% type III. The patterns of fiber-shape in each fiber bundle from the cambium to the outside increases in diameter with the centre being dominantly type I, the middle region type II, and the outer region type III. The length of fiber found in the present study (longest 70 mm) is shorter than in previous reports. Length, diameter, and thickness of cell wall of clone ramie fiber cells grew at similar rates throughout the maturation process. Fastest fiber growth was obtained from Padang 3 clones at 132 μm/day, while the slowest was in Ramindo clones at 48 μm/day. The fastest fiber growth for all clones occured at 2-3 weeks of age. Based on fiber growth, Padang clones should be harvested after six weeks, clones of Indochina, Lembang A, and Ramindo harvested after eight weeks and Lembang A clone after the eighth week. This is sooner than harvesting based on morphological characteristics, which would be between the age of 10-11 weeks. The clones of Padang A were considered superior to the other clones.