scholarly journals Pros and cons of using a standard protocol to test germination of alpine species

Plant Ecology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 221 (11) ◽  
pp. 1045-1067
Author(s):  
Vera Margreiter ◽  
Konrad Pagitz ◽  
Christian Berg ◽  
Patrick Schwager ◽  
Brigitta Erschbamer
Keyword(s):  
Seed Mass ◽  
Eastern Alps ◽  
Germination Percentage ◽  
Standard Protocol ◽  
Csr Strategies ◽  
Alpine Regions ◽  
Alpine Species ◽  
Germination Behaviour ◽  
The One ◽  
Species Rarity

Abstract Storing seeds in seed banks is an effective way to preserve plant diversity and conserve species. An essential step towards a valuable conservation is the validation of germination. This study presents a germination screening of seeds from 255 species of the European Eastern Alps, which were to be stored at the Millennium Seed Bank (Kew, UK). The final germination percentage (FGP) was determined using a standard protocol in the laboratory. Species were classified according to species rarity, plant community, occurrence at elevation belts, bedrock types, as well as CSR strategies, and further, seed mass was examined. We could not find statistically significant differences of FGP within these classes, but 74.9% of all tested species germinated using the standard protocol, and half of them had FGP ≥ 20.1–100%. A treatment with gibberellic acid enhanced the germination in half of the species to which this treatment was applied. Common families in alpine regions, i.e. Asteraceae, Poaceae and Saxifragaceae were highlighted in terms of their germination behaviour. The results provide an evaluation of the application of standard protocols to a broad Alpine species pool on the one hand, and on the other hand, provide ecological insights of the species tested. Germination is not only one of the most important events of the reproductive cycle of plants but could also be a key feature in species' responses to changing environmental conditions.

Fruit and seed polymorphism and its relation to seedling growth in the genus Cakile

1989 ◽  
Vol 67 (9) ◽  
pp. 2743-2750 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. A. Maun ◽  
A. M. Payne
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Seed Mass ◽  
Germination Percentage ◽  
Dispersal Ability ◽  
Relative Growth ◽  
Frequency Distributions ◽  
Cakile Maritima ◽  
Cakile Edentula ◽  
Germination Behaviour ◽  
Better Than

To ascertain the adaptive significance of dimorphism under unpredictable environments, the dimorphic fruit segments of Cakile edentula var. lacustris, Cakile edentula var. edentula, and Cakile maritima were tested for differences in size of propagules, dispersal ability, germination behaviour, and growth rate. The upper and lower fruit segments differed in some attributes but not in others. For example, the fruits, seeds, and shells of upper segments were significantly heavier than those of lower segments. However, the frequency distributions of mean mass per seed, shell, and fruit indicated a considerable zone of overlap beneath the histograms of upper and lower fruit segments. Under still conditions in a greenhouse, no differences were found in the floating ability of upper and lower fruit segments of C. edentula var. lacustris and C. maritima. Of the three taxa, C. maritima fruits had the highest shell to seed mass ratio and floated for the longest period of time. Morphological seed dimorphism was linked with a physiological seed dimorphism. The lower fruit segments of C. edentula var. lacustris germinated better than the upper fruit segments over a wider range of temperatures. Light did not alter the final germination percentage of upper or lower fruit segments but inhibited the rate of germination. The relative growth rate decreased in all three taxa with an increase in the age of a seedling, irrespective of its seed weight.

Seed mass and elevation explain variation in seed longevity of Australian alpine species

2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 319-331 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annisa Satyanti ◽  
Adrienne B. Nicotra ◽  
Thomas Merkling ◽  
Lydia K. Guja
Keyword(s):  
Seed Mass ◽  
Seed Viability ◽  
Plant Conservation ◽  
Seed Longevity ◽  
Ex Situ ◽  
Accelerated Ageing ◽  
Alpine Regions ◽  
Australian Alps ◽  
Alpine Species

AbstractConserving alpine ecosystems and the plant communities they contain using ex situ conservation requires an understanding of seed longevity. Knowledge of seed longevity may determine the effectiveness of ex situ seed banking for alpine plant conservation, and may provide insight into plant recruitment in situ. We sought to determine the influence of elevation and climatic variables, as well as plant and seed traits, on the seed longevity of 57 species inhabiting a unique biome, (sub-)alpine regions of mainland Australia. Seed longevity was estimated using controlled accelerated ageing tests to determine the time taken for seed viability to fall by 50%. We found that, across the study species, like alpine seeds elsewhere in the world, Australian alpine seeds are relatively short-lived and overall shorter-lived than Australian plants in general. Seed mass and elevation explained most of the variation in seed longevity among the Australian alpine species considered. Species with larger seed mass, and collections made at higher elevations, were found to have relatively short-lived seeds. Phylogeny, however, explained very little of the variation in longevity. Our results suggest that viability testing for Australian alpine seeds in ex situ seed banks should be conducted with shorter intervals than for the non-alpine flora. This study highlights how seed longevity in the Australian Alps is not dictated primarily by evolutionary lineage but rather by a complex combination of environmental variables and intrinsic seed characteristics. Potential implications for conservation ex situ and in situ in the context of climate change are discussed.

scholarly journals Germination Patterns in Seeds Produced in Apical and Basal Fruits of Two Thlaspi arvense Populations

Agronomy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 756
Author(s):  
Eva Edo-Tena ◽  
Russ W. Gesch ◽  
Aritz Royo-Esnal
Keyword(s):  
Germination Percentage ◽  
Temperate Climate ◽  
Oilseed Crop ◽  
Seed Selection ◽  
Thlaspi Arvense ◽  
Production Site ◽  
Field Pennycress ◽  
Selection For ◽  
The One ◽  
Two Populations

The aim of the present work is to study possible differences in the germination behavior of apical and basal seeds (produced in the upper and lower fruits of the infruitescence), of two populations of field pennycress (Thlaspi arvense), both produced in a Mediterranean and a continental temperate climate. The results showed that among the three studied factors (population, seed type, production site), only the production site was relevant for the total germination, germinating those produced in Morris in a greater amount than those produced in Lleida. Germination models could be applied only to seeds produced at Morris (>10% germination), and despite the lack of differences in the total germination percentage, germination rates (speed—b parameter—and time to 50% germination—G50) differed between population and seed types—apical seeds from the Spanish population germinated faster (lower b parameter) than the rest, while apical seeds of both populations germinated faster than the corresponding basal seeds (lower G50). The results show, on the one hand, the importance of the seed production site if this species was considered as a commercial oilseed crop and, on the other hand, differences that will help seed selection for seed germination and establishment improvement of pennycress.

scholarly journals Consequences of climate change for runoff from Alpine regions

2000 ◽  
Vol 31 ◽  
pp. 19-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. N. Braun ◽  
M. Weber ◽  
M. Schulz
Keyword(s):  
Air Temperature ◽  
Regional Climate ◽  
Eastern Alps ◽  
Climate Modelling ◽  
Water Shortages ◽  
Alpine Regions ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Data Files ◽  
Daily Discharge ◽  
Runoff Model

AbstractThe water balance of Alpine regions is strongly determined by the storage of water in the form of snow and ice On the basis of long time series of daily precipitation, air temperature and discharge, the conceptual runoff model HBV3–ETH9 was applied to various basins of the eastern Alps showing a glacierization of 0–80%. Using the results of regional climate modelling under the assumption of doubling of C02 , the meteorological input data files were altered taking into account more frequent hot days and additional connective precipitation events during the summer months, and the consequences of these changes for daily discharge were evaluated. The results show that in regions with insignificant glacierization, runoff reacts primarily to changes in precipitation, and less so to rising summer air temperature. In highly glacierized basins, however, the same scenarios suggest strongly enhanced water yields in an initial phase. Higher flood peaks will result when high melt rates and heavy summer rains coincide. If glacier mass losses continue in the more distant future, the glacierized area will diminish and summer discharge will be gradually reduced, resulting in drastic water shortages in hot, dry summers once the glaciers have disappeared.

Harvesting sugar-beet seed

1974 ◽  
Vol 83 (3) ◽  
pp. 435-442 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. C. Longden
Keyword(s):  
Sugar Beet ◽  
Size Distribution ◽  
Plant Height ◽  
Seed Yield ◽  
Traditional Method ◽  
Germination Percentage ◽  
Viable Seed ◽  
Chlormequat Chloride ◽  
Seed Crop ◽  
The One

SummaryComparisons of the effects of harvesting sugar-beet seed by the traditional method of tripodding with barn drying, swathing followed by threshing with a pick-up combine or desiccation with diquat followed by direct combine harvesting showed that there were no consistent or large effects on seed yield, germination, monogermity or size distribution. Thus the best method will be the one which is easiest and/or cheapest, which at present is swathing followed by pick-up combine threshing.Sprays of NAA or 2,4,5-T at 10 or 100 mg a.i./l water before or after flowering had no effect on seed yield or germination and efforts to restrict the loss by shedding of large viable seed failed. Neither chemical decreased germination percentage by setting parthenocarpic seed. Attempts were made to dwarf the 2 m high seed crop to make it suitable for direct combine harvesting. Daminozide sprayed at 1000, 5000 or 10000 mg a.i./l water before or after the winter did not affect plant height, seed yield, germination, monogermity or size distribution. Chlormequat chloride applied similarly dwarfed plants by up to 18% but this was not enough to give a crop less than 1 m high suitable for direct combine harvesting. It did not affect seed yield, germination, monogermity or size distribution. Ethephon sprayed at 10, 100 or 1000 mg a.i./l water when plants were bolting had no detected effects. Chlorflurecolmethyl was sprayed at 10 or 100 before bolting or 1, 10 or 100 mg a.i./l water afterwards. Plants sprayed with the 100 mg/1 solution were dwarfed to less than 1 m high but the treatment was unsuccessful because it greatly reduced seed yield and germination; monogermity was not affected but a much greater proportion of seed fell into the small size grades.

Taxonomy of spatially disjunct alpine Teleiopsis albifemorella s. lat. (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) revealed by molecular data and morphology —how many species are there?

Zootaxa ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 3580 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
PETER HUEMER ◽  
MARKO MUTANEN
Keyword(s):  
Eastern Alps ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Molecular Data ◽  
Nuclear Markers ◽  
Genetic Lineages ◽  
Alpine Species ◽  
Dinaric Mountains ◽  
Southwestern Alps ◽  
Mtdna Markers ◽  
Major Haplogroups

The taxonomy of the European alpine species Teleiopsis albifemorella (Hofmann, 1867) s. lat. is revised. We sequenced mtDNA markers (COI barcode region) of 44 specimens resulting in a full barcode for 41 specimens. We also sequenced five nuclear markers (CAD, EF-1a, IDH, MDH and wingless) of 12 specimens. Molecular data of nuclear genes combined with weak morphological characters indicate two species: Teleiopsis albifemorella from the eastern Alps and the Dinaric mountains and Teleiopsis paulheberti sp. nov. from the southwestern Alps, the Apennines and the Pyrenees. The COI barcode region groups into seven genetic lineages from geographically coherent areas. Four major haplogroups are assigned to T. paulheberti sp. nov. whereas three major haplogroups support the eastern alpine Teleiopsis albifemorella.

Perianth colour affects germination behaviour in wind-pollinated Salsola rubescens in Arabian deserts

Botany ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 92 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-75 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali A. El-Keblawy ◽  
Arvind Bhatt ◽  
Sanjay Gairola
Keyword(s):  
Salinity Tolerance ◽  
Germination Rate ◽  
Germination Percentage ◽  
Ecological Role ◽  
Light Requirement ◽  
Germination Speed ◽  
Germination Behaviour ◽  
Seeds Germination

Salsola rubescens Franch. is a wind-pollinated halophytic shrub that produces fruits with red and yellow winged perianths. Germinability of seeds from both fruit types was determined under various light, temperature, and salinity treatments. Red seeds, with and without winged perianths, were heavier than yellow seeds. Germination percentage and germination rate index (speed) were significantly affected by the perianth colour, presence of wings, and temperature and light of incubation and most of their interactions. Germination percentage was greater for yellow-winged seeds than for red-winged seeds. Wing removal significantly enhanced the germination percentage and germination speed in the two types. The presence of wings enhanced germination at lower temperatures, but wing absence enhanced germination at higher temperatures. Wing removal enhanced germination to a greater degree in yellow than in red seeds. There was no light requirement during germination of red-winged seeds, but yellow-winged seeds germinated significantly more in light than in darkness. Red-winged and dewinged seeds were more tolerant to salinity than yellow seeds. Removal of wings significantly increased salinity tolerance for seeds of both wing colours. It is concluded that the showy perianth colours have an ecological role in wind-pollinated plants in regulating dormancy and germination behaviour in the heterogeneous unpredictable hyperarid deserts.

scholarly journals Morphological and germination response variability in seeds of wild yellow gentian (Gentiana lutea L.) accessions from northwest Spain

Botany ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 90 (8) ◽  
pp. 731-742 ◽  
Author(s):  
Félix Pérez-García ◽  
Federico Varela ◽  
M. Elena González-Benito
Keyword(s):  
Seed Germination ◽  
Water Content ◽  
Germination Rate ◽  
Seed Mass ◽  
Germination Percentage ◽  
Gentiana Lutea ◽  
Moist Chilling ◽  
Mean Germination Time ◽  
Wild Accessions ◽  
Seed Water Content

Gentiana lutea L. (yellow gentian, Gentianaceae) is an important medicinal plant under protection as endangered species in most European countries. The aim of this work was to evaluate variation in seed mass, seed water content, and seed germination among 56 wild accessions of G. lutea. The effect of gibberellic acid (GA3), putrescine, moist chilling, and level of ripeness of seeds on subsequent germination was also investigated. Seeds of G. lutea showed physiological dormancy (final germination percentages ranged from 0% to 11%, depending on the accession) and GA3 enhanced seed germination drastically in all the accessions. The highest germination (99%) of GA3-treated seeds was reached at 15 °C. Final germination percentage and germination rate (as expressed by mean germination time), as well as seed mass and seed water content, varied significantly among accessions. In general, 1 year moist chilling did not significantly enhance G. lutea seed germination. For most accessions, no significant differences were found between fully ripe seeds and less ripe seeds for seed water content, seed mass, and seed germination. Applications of GA3 were always most effective than those of putrescine for increasing seed germination.

scholarly journals Effects of light availability and seed size on germination and initial growth of two congeneric species of Fabaceae

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcilio Fagundes ◽  
Pablo Cuevas-Reyes ◽  
Walter S. Araujo ◽  
Mauricio L. Faria ◽  
Henrique M. Valerio ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Light Intensity ◽  
Seed Size ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Seed Mass ◽  
Germination Percentage ◽  
High Light Intensity ◽  
High Light ◽  
Congeneric Species ◽  
Low Light ◽  
Copaifera Langsdorffii

Background and Aims: Environmental factors can interact with plant life history to determinate the reproductive strategies of adult plants and seedling recruitment. We expect that widely distributed tree species produce heavier seed and with greater variation in seed size than shrubs of restricted geographic distribution. We also predict that widely distributed tree species should be capable to germinate and develop under variable range of light conditions, while sun-adapted shrubs should germinate and develop better under high light intensity. We used as models two congeneric species of Fabaceae. Copaifera langsdorffii is a widely distributed arboreal species and C oblongifolia is a shrub with restricted distribution. Methods: Seeds were collected from two plant species in a Cerrado vegetation area, northern Minas Gerais, Brazil. The effects of light available on seed germination and seedling development was conducted in a germination chamber with controlled photoperiod, temperature and light intensity.Key results: The widely distributed tree (C. langsdorffii) had greater seed mass than the shrub (C. oblongifolia). Seeds of C. langsdorffii germinated faster under available high light, while the shrub C. oblongifolia seeds required less time to germinate under available low light and darkness. Under high light intensity, germination percentage of C. langsdorffii and C. oblongifolia seeds did not vary. However, seeds of the shrub showed a higher germination percentage under low light intensity and darkness. In general, seed mass showed a negative relationship with germination percentage, but this relationship varied in function of species and the availability of light. Copaifera langsdorffii seedlings had larger shoots and roots than C. oblongifolia. In contrast, the root:shoot ratio was higher in shrub than in tree species.Conclusions: Our results have important implications for understanding the patterns of distribution of two Copaifera species and explain the ability of C. oblongifolia to colonize disturbed areas.

Germination and seedling establishment in cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.): An interaction between seed size, relative growth rate and seedling biomass

2017 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 110
Author(s):  
Babli Mog, J.D. Adiga M.G. Nayak and G.S. Mohana
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Area ◽  
Seed Size ◽  
Seedling Establishment ◽  
Seedling Survival ◽  
Seedling Emergence ◽  
Seed Mass ◽  
Germination Percentage ◽  
Mass Ratio ◽  
Unit Leaf ◽  
Seedling Biomass

<p>Seeds of cashew were used to determine the effect of seed mass (5.2 to 7.8 g) on germination, seedling emergence and growth<br />under nursery conditions. Germination percentage and germination time showed significant correlation with seed mass. Large<br />sized seeds had higher germination percentage (81.6%) and produced more vigorous seedlings. Per cent seedling emergence was<br />related to seed mass with large sized seeds exhibited faster emergence. Seed mass significantly affected seedling survival and<br />survival rate was high in seedlings arising from large sized seeds (62.9%). Seedling vigor expressed in terms of shoot and root<br />length, leaf number, leaf area and total dry matter was significantly affected by seed mass. Seedlings that emerged from large sized<br />seeds showed better growth and produced heavier seedlings as compared to medium sized seeds. RGR showed significant variation<br />(0.152 to 0.240 g g-1day-1) among two seed size classes positively correlated with seed mass, leaf area (LA), unit leaf rate per unit<br />leaf area (ULRM), root to shoot ratio (R/S) and root mass ratio (RMR) and negatively with stem mass ratio (SMR). The study<br />concluded that the seed mass and RGR have influence on seedling growth and success of seedling establishment in cashew.</p>

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