<![CDATA[ABSTRAKPengembangan serai wangi memerlukan ketersediaan benih bermutu. Sampai saat ini, informasi standar mutu benih serai wangi masih terbatas. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui viabilitas benih serai wangi dengan jumlah ruas dan panjang batang yang berbeda sebagai dasar penyusunan Standar Nasional Indonesia (SNI). Penelitian dilakukan di rumah kaca Balai Penelitian Tanaman Rempah dan Obat (Balittro) dari Mei sampai Juni 2013 dengan menggunakan benih serai wangi klon G 2. Percobaan disusun secara faktorial dengan tiga faktor dan diulang empat kali dalam Rancangan Acak Kelompok (RAK). Faktor pertama adalah jumlah ruas stolon: (1) satu dan (2) dua. Faktor kedua adalah ukuran panjang batang semu: (1)15, (2) 20, dan (3) 25 cm. Faktor ketiga adalah periode penyimpanan: (1) 0, (2) 3, (3) 6, (4) 9, dan (5) 12 hari. Parameter yang diamati meliputi kadar air, daya tumbuh, serta bobot basah dan kering. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan viabilitas benih serai wangi dipengaruhi oleh jumlah ruas stolon dan panjang batang. Benih dengan dua ruas dan panjang batang 25 cm mempunyai viabilitas lebih baik dibandingkan satu ruas dan panjang 15 cm. Sampai 12 hari penyimpanan di suhu kamar, benih masih segar dengan daya tumbuh 83,75%.Kata kunci: Cymbopogon nardus L., jumlah ruas, panjang batang, penyimpanan, viabilitas ABSTRACTEffect of Internodes Number and Stems Length on Viability of Citronella Seeds (Cympobogon nardus L.) Development of citronella required the availability of good quality seed. Presently, standard information of citronella seed quality is not available. The research aims to study the viability of citronella seeds from different internodes number and stem length as the basic for preparing Indonesian National Standards. The experiment was conducted in the green house of the Indonesian Spice and Medicinal Crops Research Institute (ISMECRI), from May until June 2013, by using citronella clones G 2. Factorial experiment with three factors and four replications was arranged in a Randomized Completely Block Design (RCBD). The first factor was internodes numbers: (1) one and (2) two. The second factor was stem length: (1) 15, (2) 20, and (3) 25 cm. The third factor was storage periods: (1) 0, (2) 3, (3) 6, (4) 9, and (5) 12 days. Parameters observed included seeds moisture content, seeds germination, fresh, and dry weight. The results of experiment indicated that viability of citronella seeds was affected by stolon internodes number and stem length. Seeds with two internodes and stem length 25 cm has better viability than with one of internode and 15 cm of stem length. Up to 12 days storage at room temperature, the seeds were still fresh with the germination 83.75%.Keywords: Cymbopogon nardus L., internodes number, stem length, storage, viability]]>
