Germination characteristics of seven Stylosanthes species

1976 ◽  
Vol 16 (82) ◽  
pp. 723 ◽  
Author(s):  
JG McIvor

The germination response of dehulled, scarified seeds to a range of constant and alternating temperatures, and to moisture stress was measured in seven Stylosanthes species. Rates of water uptake and loss were also measured. With constant temperatures, both total germination and germination rate were greatest at 25�C for all species except for S. hamata which germinated faster at 30�C. Both higher and lower temperatures slowed and depressed germination. Constant and alternating temperatures produced similar results except at high temperatures where germination was less with the alternating regime. Moisture stress greatly reduced germination of S. guyanensis cv. Cook, S. scabra and S. viscosa but had little effect on S. fruticosa, S. guyanensis CPI 40294 and S. subsericea. Initial rate of water uptake was greatest for S. hamata and S. subsericea but moisture content was similar for all species by 18 hours. There were no differences between species in rate of water loss from imbibed seeds.

1993 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 119 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Battaglia

The seed germination response of seedlots from five geographically disparate provenances of Eucalyptus delegatensis to temperature, stratification, soil matric potential, relative humidity and interrupted imbibition was examined. The species was found to have a distinct temperature optimum of between 15 and 20°C, and a minimum temperature for germination of approximately 2°C. Short periods of exposure to high temperatures did not substantially affect germination performance. Stratification greatly increased the range of temperatures over which a high proportion of the seed germinated. Increases in the rate of germination with stratification are related to accrued thermal time during stratification. Pre-imbibing seeds at water potentials down to -2 MPa increased the rate of germination; however, no advantage was found after pre-imibibing at -3 MPa. This increased germination rate was associated with a shortening of the time to commencement of germination and more synchronous germination. Germination rate and germination capacity were impeded by soil matric potentials below -0.01 MPa, and germination was totally inhibited by soil matric potentials below -0.5 MPa. Soil matric potential and temperature interacted in their effects on germination capacity, and seeds germinating at near optimum temperatures were less sensitive to soil moisture stress. Seeds survived dehydration within 60 h of the commencement of imbibition, but were increasingly affected by dehydration thereafter. The rate of imbibition was influenced by the ambient temperature and solution water potential. At modest levels of water stress, imbibition was not impeded and the reduction in germination capacity was probably due to the inhibition of growth related processes. Differences in germination response were detected between the seedlots and these could be related to the geographic origin of the seedlots.


1965 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 317 ◽  
Author(s):  
MR Warburg

The rate of evaporative water loss of several species of frog found in Australia and their ability to survive at high temperatures were studied at various temperatures in both dry and in humid air, and at constant vapour pressure deficit. The species studied were: Bufonidae, Bufo marinus (L.); Leptodactylidae, Crinia signifera Girard, Pseudophryne bibroni Gunther, Limnodynastes tasmaniensis Gunther, L. dorsalis (Gray), L. ornatus (Gray), Neobatrachus pictus Peters, N. centralis (Parker); Hylidae, Hyla ewingi (Dumeril & Bibron) and H. rubella Gray. To a certain extent, the trend for increased adaptation to terrestrial conditions follows the trend for reduced water loss. The rate of water uptake after dehydration is greatest in the burrowing frogs inhabiting arid and semi-arid regions. Survival at high temperatures in dry air was found to be a good criterion for judging the degree of adaptation of these frogs to life in arid regions.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
William A Hoffmann ◽  
Amanda C Rodrigues ◽  
Nicholas Uncles ◽  
Lorenzo Rossi

Abstract The heat plume associated with fire has been hypothesized to cause sufficient water loss from trees to induce embolism and hydraulic failure. However, it is unclear whether the water transport path remains sufficiently intact during scorching or burning of foliage to sustain high water loss. We measured water uptake by branches of Magnolia grandiflora while exposing them to a range of fire intensities, and examined factors influencing continued water uptake after fire. Burning caused a 22-fold mean increase in water uptake, with greatest rates of water loss observed at burn intensities that caused complete consumption of leaves. Such rapid uptake is possible only with steep gradients in water potential, which would likely result in substantial cavitation of xylem and loss of conductivity in intact stems. Water uptake continued after burning was complete, and was greatest following burn intensities that killed leaves but did not consume them. This post-fire uptake was mostly driven by rehydration of the remaining tissues, rather than evaporation from the tissues. Our results indicate that the fire-plume hypothesis can be expanded to include a wide range of burning conditions experienced by plants. High rates of water loss are sustained during burning, even when leaves are killed or completely consumed.


1992 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
L Valbuena ◽  
R Tarrega ◽  
E Luis

The influence of high temperatures on germination of Cistus laurifolius and Cistus ladanifer seeds was analyzed. Seeds were subjected to different temperatures for different times, afterwards they were sowed in plastic petri dishes and monitored for germinated seeds over two months.The germination rate observed in Cistus ldanifer was greater than in Cistus laurifolius. In both species, heat increased germination percentages. For Cistus laurifolius higher temperatures or longer exposure times were needed. Germination percentages of Cistus ladanifer were lower when heat exposure time was 15 minutes.It must be emphasized that germination occurred when seeds were not treated, while seeds exposed to 150�C for 5 minutes or more did not germinate.


2002 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 261-271 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Escudero ◽  
F. Pérez-García ◽  
A. L. Luzuriaga

AbstractMost Pinus species are obligate seeders. Thus, knowledge of germination characteristics can help in the understanding, prediction and manipulation of the regeneration and dynamics of pine forests. Seven pine species with contrasting habitat preferences and different genetic pairwise distances are present in the Iberian Peninsula and the Canary Islands: P. halepensis, P. nigra, P. pinaster, P. pinea, P. sylvestris, P. uncinata and P. canariensis. These seven pine species comprise an exceptional experimental set to test some questions related to germination traits, such as: (1) What are the effects of light and temperature on germination, taking into account interpopulation variability? (2) Is there any association of germination traits with habitat (montane versus lowland) preferences? and (3) What is the relationship between germination traits and the genetic distance between pine species? P. nigra, P. sylvestris and P. uncinata seeds showed faster germination rates. Seeds of P. nigra and P. sylvestris reached high total germination percentages in every temperature and light treatment, suggesting an opportunistic germination strategy. Unlike montane pines, lowland pines did show significant effects of temperature on germination response: final germination was higher between 15°C and 20°C than at warmer and alternating temperatures. Relatively low temperatures associated with the winter rainy season would favour germination of most of these species. Nested models showed that population variability was the main source of variation in germination response. Thus, there is no phylogenetic control of the germination response and, surprisingly, germination traits were not related to habitat preferences. As a consequence, we believe that studies of the germination characteristics of a pine species should consider different populations.


1969 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 327-333
Author(s):  
F. MORIARTY

1. The pattern of water absorption by eggs of Chorthippus brunneus varies greatly between individuals. 2. The time at which water is absorbed does not have a close relationship with the stage of embryonic development. 3. Water absorption is not essential for prediapause development. 4. Eggs can only undergo blastokinesis and further development, after diapause is broken, if some water has been absorbed. 5. The rate of water loss or gain varies with the osmotic pressure of sodium chloride solutions. 6. Eggs which have started to absorb water appear to become desiccated more rapidly than eggs which have not.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document