Seed germination of 53 species from the globally critically imperiled pine rockland ecosystem of South Florida, USA: effects of storage, phylogeny and life-history traits

2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 82-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Salazar ◽  
Joyce Maschinski ◽  
Jennifer Possley ◽  
Katherine Heineman
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Seed Germination ◽  
Seed Dispersal ◽  
Life History Traits ◽  
Phylogenetic Signal ◽  
Seed Storage ◽  
Storage Conditions ◽  
South Florida ◽  
Dispersal Mode ◽  
Mixed Effect

AbstractGermination studies at the community level are crucial for understanding and predicting changes in species distribution patterns, particularly in endangered plant communities. We investigated the effects of dry (11–25% relative humidity) and freezing (–18°C) storage conditions, phylogeny and plant life-history traits (life-form, life-span, microhabitat and seed dispersal mode) on seed germination percentage (GP) and time to reach 50% germination (T50) of 53 species native to pine rocklands in South Florida, USA, a globally critically imperiled ecosystem. Most species we studied (68%) withstood dry and freezing storage conditions and thus ex situ seed banking can assist their long-term conservation. Bayesian mixed effect models revealed that there was a significant phylogenetic signal in GP and T50 across species. Life-history covariates did not explain significant additional variation in GP in models controlling for the phylogenetic relationships among species. T50 differed among species with contrasting dispersal modes, with animal-dispersed seeds exhibiting more delayed germination than wind-dispersed or unassisted seeds. Differential germination responses across species with different seed dispersal modes have implications for potential shifts in species composition under disturbance and climate change. Thus, knowledge of species-relatedness and some life-history traits such as seed dispersal mode can significantly assist management decisions regarding seed storage and conservation of subtropical endangered plants.

scholarly journals Seed and Embryo Germination in Ardisia crenata

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takahiro Tezuka ◽  
Hisa Yokoyama ◽  
Hideyuki Tanaka ◽  
Shuji Shiozaki ◽  
Masayuki Oda
Keyword(s):  
Seed Germination ◽  
Seed Coat ◽  
Critical Factor ◽  
Seed Storage ◽  
Storage Conditions ◽  
Embryo Germination ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Dry Conditions ◽  
Temperature Water ◽  
Good Germination

Ardisia crenata is an evergreen shrub with attractive bright red berries. Although this species is usually propagated by seed, the seeds take a long time to germinate with conventional sowing methods. We investigated the germination capacity of seeds and embryos collected in different months and the effects of seed storage conditions, germination temperature, water permeability of the seed coat, and the endosperm on seed germination. Seeds and embryos collected in late September or later showed good germination rates. Seeds germinated more rapidly after longer periods of storage at low temperature (approximately 5°C), and those stored in dry conditions showed lower emergence frequency than those stored in wet conditions. Seeds germinated at 15–30°C, but not at 5–10°C. Removal of the seed coat enhanced water uptake and seed germination. Seeds with various proportions of the removed seed coat were sown on a medium supplemented with sucrose. The germination frequency increased as the size of the remaining endosperm decreased. However, the opposite results were obtained when seeds were sown on a medium without sucrose. We concluded that the optimal temperature of 25°C is the most critical factor for seed germination in A. crenata.

Seed Germination and Viability in African Teak, Milicia excelsa (Welw.) C.C. Berg- (Moraceae) - a promising timber tree

2019 ◽  
Vol 42 (3) ◽  
pp. 303-306
Author(s):  
T. Sabu ◽  
◽  
Chitra Chandrasenan Rajeswary ◽  
S.M. Surayya Muhammed ◽  
C. Anilkumar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Seed Germination ◽  
Seed Storage ◽  
Storage Conditions ◽  
Forest Plantation ◽  
Tropical Africa ◽  
Forest Division ◽  
Timber Tree ◽  
Milicia Excelsa

The occurrence of Milicia excelsa (Welw.) C.C. Berg, native to tropical Africa, commonly known as African Teak is reported in the forest plantation area of Alimukku, Punalur Forest Division, Kollam District, in Kerala (Sabu et al, 2018). An attempt is made to popularize and conserve this highly promising tree having multipurpose use, by raising seedlings through standardized seed germination protocols and evolving suitable seed storage conditions.

scholarly journals Seed Germination and Storage of the Endangered Species Manglietia crassipes Y. W. Law (Magnoliaceae)

Horticulturae ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 42
Author(s):  
Ai-Hua Wang ◽  
Xiao-Ling Yu ◽  
Yan-Yan Liu ◽  
Shu-Gang Chen ◽  
Fa-Guo Wang
Keyword(s):  
Seed Germination ◽  
Endangered Species ◽  
Seed Dormancy ◽  
Germination Rate ◽  
Seed Storage ◽  
Storage Conditions ◽  
Seed Vigor ◽  
Water Control ◽  
Critically Endangered Species ◽  
Germination Characteristics

Manglietia crassipes, a critically endangered species narrowly distributed on Mount Dayao in Guangxi, China, is also a species of ornamental interest whose variability has not been explored. Key factors leading to its endangerment have also not been studied. Here, two experiments were conducted to test the effects of different plant growth regulators and different storage conditions on germination characteristics of M. crassipes seeds. Fruit morphology was measured, and germination characteristics of fresh mature seeds were tested in order to assess natural seed vigor. Seeds were soaked in distilled water (control), or gibberellic acid (GA3), 6-benzylaminopurine (6-BA) or indoleacetic acid (IAA) solutions of different concentrations, for 48 h to determine their effects on seed germination. In addition, the effects of different seed storage conditions (constant 4 °C, −7 °C, −20 °C, or 25 °C for 100 days, wet stratification at 4 °C for 100 days) on seed germination were investigated. Results showed that the abortive rate of the mature fruits was high (28.9%) and fresh natural seeds had a low germination rate (G) and germination index (GI). Seed germination was inhibited with 6-BA at all concentrations, but only at less than 100 m·L−1 IAA; otherwise, IAA slightly promoted seed germination. GA3 broke seed dormancy and significantly accelerated seed germination by improving G, GI and initial germination time (IGT), especially over 2500 mg·L−1. The viability of seeds declined no matter how they were stored. However, 4 °C wet stratification storage was preferable for seed vigor and germination power. Our results suggest that the high abortive rate of fruits, low germination of the natural seed, seed dormancy and its intolerance to storage, contributed to the endangerment of M. crassipes. GA3 can break M. crassipes seed dormancy, which can be a benefit for future ornamental breeding and further protection or conservation.

EFFECTS OF STORAGE CONDITIONS AND PRESENCE OF FRUITING BRACTS ON THE GERMINATION OF ATRIPLEX HALIMUS AND SALSOLA VERMICULATA

1997 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 149-155 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. E. OSMAN ◽  
F. GHASSALI
Keyword(s):  
Seed Germination ◽  
Cold Storage ◽  
North Africa ◽  
Room Temperature ◽  
Storage Temperature ◽  
Seed Storage ◽  
Storage Conditions ◽  
Shrub Species ◽  
Atriplex Halimus ◽  
Different Temperatures

Two shrub species, Atriplex halimus L. and Salsola vermiculata L., are considered useful for rehabilitation of degraded rangelands in west Asia and north Africa. They can be established from direct seeding and are capable of self-sowing. In this study, seed storage at different temperatures and the influence of fruiting bracts on seed germination were examined for the two species during two seasons. Fruits (utricles) were stored at 20–22°C (room temperature), 0°C or −22°C. Germination tests were carried out after 33, 56, 90, 152, 272 and 397 d in storage in the first season and after 44, 76, 104, 170, 288 and 412 d in the second season. Seeds were germinated in their fruiting bracts or after bract removal. Bract removal significantly improved seed germination of both shrubs regardless of storage temperature. For S. vermiculata the increase in germination was in the range of 1.3- to 14.7-fold compared with values for the intact fruit in Season 1 and 0.5 to 3.8 in Season 2. Similarly the ranges for A. halimus were 0.5- to 4.2-fold and 0.7- to 5.3-fold in the two seasons respectively. The effect of cold storage was greater on Salsola than on Atriplex. The reduction of the storage temperature from 21°C to 0°C and −22°C increased the longevity of S. vermiculata seeds by 2.8–46.6 times in Season 1 and by 2.9–2.6 times in Season 2. There was little or no effect on the longevity of A. halimus. A leachate prepared by soaking fruiting bracts from S. vermiculata significantly depressed germination (p < 0.01), the effect being greater on Salsola seeds (20% reduction) than on Atriplex seeds (8% reduction). A leachate from A. halimus produced a slight but non-significant reduction in germination.

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