scholarly journals Germination and seed conservation of a pioneer species, Tecoma stans (Bignoniaceae), from tropical dry forest of Colombia

2018 ◽  
Vol 66 (2) ◽  
pp. 918
Author(s):  
Jhon Alexander Vargas-Figueroa ◽  
Alba Marina Torres-González
Keyword(s):  
Seed Germination ◽  
White Light ◽  
Germination Rate ◽  
Red Light ◽  
Tropical Dry Forest ◽  
Seed Storage ◽  
Dry Forest ◽  
Storage Behavior ◽  
Mean Germination Time ◽  
Seed Storage Behavior

Seed germination and seed longevity under different environmental conditions are fundamental to understand the ecological dynamics of a species, since they are decisive for its success within the ecosystem. Taking this into account, seed germination and seed storage behavior of a pioneer species of tropical dry forest (Tecoma stans) were studied in the laboratory, to establish the effect of different environmental conditions on a local tree population. Two seed lots collected in July 2011, from Cali (Colombia), were evaluated under three alternating temperatures (20/30, 20/25, 25/30 ºC; 16/8 h) and four light qualities (12-hour white light photoperiod, darkness, and 15 minutes of red light -R and far red light -FR). Final germination was recorded for all treatments; for white light treatment the daily germination was recorded to calculate mean germination rate, mean germination time, and two synchronization indices. To assess the effect of light quality on physiological variables, a destructive germination test was carried out. For this test, another seed lot was evaluated under the same light conditions using an alternating temperature of 20/30 °C - 16/8 h, recording germination during six days for every treatment. In addition, seeds were stored at two different moisture contents (7.7, 4.1 %) and three storage temperatures (20, 5, -20 ºC), during two time periods (one and three months); a seed germination test was conducted for each treatment. Four replicates of 35 seeds per treatment were used for all experiments. Germination was high (GP > 90 %) with all alternating temperatures under white light, whereas under R, FR, and darkness germination was evenly successful at low temperatures, but at higher temperature, half of the seeds entered into secondary dormancy (GP= 45-65 %). However, mean germination rate and synchronization under R and FR decreased significantly in comparison to white light treatment and, consequently, mean germination time increased. Seed storage behavior of this species is orthodox due to the high germination (GP > 90 %) obtained under all treatments. In conclusion, T. stans seeds have a negative germination response at high incubation temperatures in the absence of white light, entering into a secondary dormancy. In contrast, an environment with a lower temperature and without white light delays the germination, but at the end seeds are able to reach the same germination values. This seed dependence on incident light in limiting conditions suggests a physiological mechanism on the seed tissues of this species, probably mediated by phytochromes. Finally, the orthodox seed storage behavior of T. stans is a reason to include this species in ex situ seed conservation programs for restoration and recovery of the tropical dry forest; however, long-term studies should be conducted in order to evaluate the maintenance of this characteristic throughout longer periods of time. Rev. Biol. Trop. 66(2): 918-936. Epub 2018 June 01. 

scholarly journals GERMINATION OF STORED SEEDS OF FOUR TREE SPECIES FROM THE TROPICAL DRY FOREST OF MORELOS, MEXICO

2014 ◽  
Vol 92 (2) ◽  
pp. 281 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martha Cervantes ◽  
Eliane Ceccon ◽  
Consuelo Bonfil
Keyword(s):  
Seed Germination ◽  
Seed Size ◽  
Storage Time ◽  
Germination Rate ◽  
Tropical Dry Forest ◽  
Dry Forest ◽  
Tropical Dry Forests ◽  
Germination Capacity ◽  
Dry Forests ◽  
And Storage

<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Studies on propagation of trees of Tropical Dry Forests are scarce in Mexico, besides, the provenance of seeds used in reforestation programs is generally unknown or poorly addressed. Knowledge on seed germination patterns of different provenances, and how they change through time, is useful to identify adequate sources of seeds and to develop seed collection and storage programs under the low-tech conditions prevailing in most rural nurseries. We evaluated seed size variation and germination of stored seeds from three different provenances per species in <em>Acacia bilimekii</em>, <em>Haematoxylum brasiletto</em>, <em>Lysiloma acapulcense</em>, and<em> L. divaricatum</em>.<em> </em>Seeds were collected in four sites in the Tropical Dry Forest of Morelos, Mexico, and were stored at room temperature; seed size was estimated through the volume of 75 seeds per provenance/species. Seed germination tests were made periodically from six to 24 months after storage and the effects of provenance and storage time on germination were analyzed using Anovas. There were significant differences in seed size among provenances in all species, while the effect of provenance on germination rate was significant in three of them. Germination rate changed with storage time among species and provenances. After 24 months, germination capacity was still ≥ 50% in all provenances of the two <em>Lysiloma</em> species, but in <em>A.</em> <em>bilimekii</em> there were large differences among provenances. Mean germination capacity was low in <em>H. brasiletto</em> after six months. More research on seed germination and storage of a larger set of species and provenances is needed to restore the Mexican tropical dry forests. </span></span></p>

scholarly journals Ecophysiology of seed germination in Mediterranean geophytes. 1. Muscari spp

2002 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 193-201 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria A. Doussi ◽  
Costas A. Thanos
Keyword(s):  
Seed Germination ◽  
White Light ◽  
Mediterranean Climate ◽  
Germination Rate ◽  
Red Light ◽  
Rainfall Regime ◽  
Light Conditions ◽  
Rainy Period ◽  
Germination Characteristics ◽  
The Mediterranean

Ecophysiological aspects of seed germination were investigated in four Mediterranean geophytes of the genus Muscari (Liliaceae): M. comosum (tassel hyacinth), M. neglectum (common grape hyacinth), M. commutatum and M. weissii. Experiments were performed at constant temperatures in the dark and under temperature and light conditions simulating those prevailing in nature during November–January, i.e. well into the rainy season of the Mediterranean climate. In all species, no primary dormancy was revealed, and germination occurred in a rather narrow range of cool temperatures (optimum at 10 or 15°C) and at a remarkably slow rate; both germination characteristics seem to be associated with autumn/winter seed germination and seedling establishment. Such a postulated strategy is ecologically advantageous within an unpredictable rainfall regime, known to prevail during the start of the rainy period of the Mediterranean climate. This strategy may also explain the spread of germination of M. comosum seeds over two consecutive years, observed by Theophrastus. Far-red light, simulating light conditions under a dense canopy, resulted in only a slight delay of germination compared to dark controls. Diurnal white light, qualitatively simulating natural daylight, caused a significant decrease of the germination rate in all four species studied. Moreover, white light was found to suppress considerably final seed germination (photoinhibition) in M. weissii and M. neglectum; in the latter species, prolonged imbibition under white light also led to the induction of secondary dormancy.

scholarly journals Hydropriming changes temperature thresholds for seed germination of tree species from the Caatinga, a Brazilian tropical dry forest

2021 ◽  
Vol 43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joana Paula Bispo Nascimento ◽  
Bárbara França Dantas ◽  
Marcos Vinicius Meiado
Keyword(s):  
Seed Germination ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Germination Rate ◽  
Tropical Dry Forest ◽  
Dry Forest ◽  
Regression Curves ◽  
Temperature Thresholds ◽  
Different Temperatures ◽  
Pre Treatment ◽  
Lower Limits

Abstract: This study evaluates the effects of hydration and dehydration cycles (HD cycles) on seed germination of four Caatinga tree species (Anadenanthera colubrina var. cebil, Enterolobium contortisiliquum, Pityrocarpa moniliformis and Pterogyne nitens) subjected to different temperatures and determine the thermal upper and lower limits of germination. For this, seeds were subjected to 0, 1, 2 and 3 HD cycles and set to germinate at temperatures of 5, 10, 15, 25, 35, 40 and 45 °C. Germinability and t50 were calculated and the differences of these parameters were compared by two-way ANOVA. In addition, germination rate (GR = 1/t50), as well as ceiling (Tc), optimum (To) and base (Tb) temperatures were calculated to estimate the limits below or above which the seeds fail to germinate. We observed that the more HD cycles, the better the seed responds, especially at extreme temperatures. Seeds of all studied species showed To between 25 and 35 °C, Tb < 10 °C, and Tc > 40 °C. The slope of regression curves for germination rate showed that submitting seeds to HD cycles expands its thermal tolerance range, revealing that this seed pre-treatment can be efficient for species as it increases their tolerance to thermal stress.

scholarly journals Arabidopsis chloroplast J protein DJC75/CRRJ mediates nitrate-promoted seed germination in the dark

2020 ◽  
Vol 125 (7) ◽  
pp. 1091-1099
Author(s):  
Huai-Syuan Ciou ◽  
Yu-Lun Tsai ◽  
Chi-Chou Chiu
Keyword(s):  
Arabidopsis Thaliana ◽  
Seed Germination ◽  
Germination Rate ◽  
Red Light ◽  
Phytochrome B ◽  
Biosynthetic Gene ◽  
Unknown Mechanism ◽  
J Domain ◽  
Domain Protein ◽  
J Protein

Abstract Background and Aims Nitrate can stimulate seed germination of many plant species in the absence of light; however, the molecular mechanism of nitrate-promoted seed germination in the dark remains largely unclear and no component of this pathway has been identified yet. Here, we show that a plastid J-domain protein, DJC75/CRRJ, in arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) is important for nitrate-promoted seed germination in the dark. Methods The expression of DJC75 during imbibition in the dark was investigated. The seed germination rate of mutants defective in DJC75 was determined in the presence of nitrate when light cues for seed germination were eliminated by the treatment of imbibed seeds with a pulse of far-red light to inactivate phytochrome B (phyB), or by assaying germination in the dark with seeds harbouring the phyB mutation. The germination rates of mutants defective in CRRL, a J-like protein related to DJC75, and in two chloroplast Hsp70s were also measured in the presence of nitrate in darkness. Key Results DJC75 was expressed during seed imbibition in the absence of light. Mutants defective in DJC75 showed seed germination defects in the presence of nitrate when light cues for seed germination were eliminated. Mutants defective in CRRL and in two chloroplast Hsp70s also exhibited similar seed germination defects. Upregulation of gibberellin biosynthetic gene GA3ox1 expression by nitrate in imbibed phyB mutant seeds was diminished when DJC75 was knocked out. Conclusions Our data suggest that plastid J-domain protein DJC75 regulates nitrate-promoted seed germination in the dark by upregulation of expression of the gibberellin biosynthetic gene GA3ox1 through an unknown mechanism and that DJC75 may work in concert with chloroplast Hsp70s to regulate nitrate-promoted seed germination. DJC75 is the first pathway component identified for nitrate-promoted seed germination in the dark.

Complexities in identifying seed storage behavior of hard seed-coated species: a special focus on Lauraceae

2019 ◽  
Vol 166 (1) ◽  
pp. 70-79
Author(s):  
Ganesh K. Jaganathan ◽  
Jiajin Li ◽  
Yashu Yang ◽  
Yingying Han ◽  
Baolin Liu
Keyword(s):  
Seed Storage ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
Hard Seed ◽  
Storage Behavior ◽  
Seed Storage Behavior

Effect of host-bark extracts on seed germination in Tillandsia recurvata, an epiphytic bromeliad

2010 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 571-581 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susana Valencia-Díaz ◽  
Alejandro Flores-Palacios ◽  
Verónica Rodríguez-López ◽  
Elsa Ventura-Zapata ◽  
Antonio R. Jiménez-Aparicio
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Composition ◽  
Seed Germination ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Total Phenolics ◽  
Tropical Dry Forest ◽  
Dry Forest ◽  
Chemical Effect ◽  
Positive Correlation ◽  
Methanolic Extracts ◽  
Biased Distribution

Abstract:Tree species are potential hosts for epiphytes; however in some forests epiphytes have a biased distribution among hosts. In a tropical dry forest of Mexico, previous research showed that there are trees with few epiphytes. It is possible that the bark of these hosts contain allelochemicals that influence epiphyte seed germination. The aims of this study were (1) to determine whether hosts with low epiphyte abundance (Ipomoea murucoides, I. pauciflora and Lysiloma acapulcense) would inhibit seed germination of Tillandsia recurvata through aqueous and organic bark extracts, (2) to determine whether germination of T. recurvata would differ among the hosts with low epiphyte abundance and a host with high epiphyte abundance (Bursera copallifera) and (3) to relate the chemical composition of organic bark extracts with inhibition of T. recurvata seed germination. Hexanic and dichloromethanic extracts were partially chemically characterized. Total phenolics and flavonoids concentrations of methanolic extracts were analysed. Aqueous and organic bark extracts from hosts with few epiphytes inhibited T. recurvata seed germination. Aqueous and dichloromethanic extracts of B. copallifera inhibited slightly the germination of T. recurvata. There was a positive correlation between concentration of flavonoids and inhibition of seed germination. Results suggest that a combination of compounds may be responsible for affecting the germination of T. recurvata. This study demonstrates the chemical effect of aqueous and organic bark extracts from hosts on germination of an epiphytic bromeliad.

scholarly journals The influence of light spectra, UV-A, and growth regulators on the in vitro seed germination of Senecio cineraria DC.

Revista CERES ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 57 (5) ◽  
pp. 576-580 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristiane Pimentel Victório ◽  
Nina Cláudia Barbosa da Silva ◽  
Maria Apparecida Esquibel ◽  
Alice Sato
Keyword(s):  
Seed Germination ◽  
Growth Regulators ◽  
White Light ◽  
Germination Rate ◽  
Germination Percentage ◽  
Ms Medium ◽  
In Vitro Germination ◽  
Light Spectra ◽  
Indole 3 Acetic Acid

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of light spectra, additional UV-A, and different growth regulators on the in vitro germination of Senecio cineraria DC. Seeds were surface-sterilized and inoculated in MS medium to evaluate the following light spectra: white, white plus UV-A, blue, green, red or darkness. The maximum germinability was obtained using MS0 medium under white light (30%) and MS + 0.3 mg L-1 GA3 in the absence of light (30.5%). S. cineraria seeds were indifferent to light. Blue and green lights inhibited germination. Different concentrations of gibberellic acid (GA3) (0.1; 0.4; 0.6; 0.8; 1.0 and 2.0 mg L-1) and indole-3-acetic acid IAA (0.1; 0.3 and 1.0 mg L-1) were evaluated under white light and darkness. No concentration of GA3 enhanced seed germination percentage under white light. However, when the seeds were maintained in darkness, GA3 improved germination responses in all tested concentrations, except at 1.0 mg L-1. Under white light, these concentrations also increased the germination time and reduced germination rate. Germination rate, under light or darkness, was lower using IAA compared with GA3.

Dispersal and germination syndromes of tree seeds in a monsoonal forest in northern India

2005 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.C. Thapliyal ◽  
S.S. Phartyal
Keyword(s):  
Seed Germination ◽  
Seed Storage ◽  
Germination Percentage ◽  
Cold Season ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Northern India ◽  
High Germination ◽  
Monsoon Forest ◽  
Mean Germination Time ◽  
Pre Treatment

This paper describes the dispersal–germination characteristics of seeds of 77 native tree species in a seasonal monsoon forest in Uttaranchal state, northern India. Results indicate that 50% of the species dispersed in the hot, dry summer months, 18% during the rainy season, 23% during the cold season and the remainder in late spring. Germination tests on fresh and laboratory-stored seeds revealed a relationship between morphological features of the fruit and both germination percentage and mean germination time (MGT). Highest mean germination (50%) was for dry-dehiscent fruits with winged wind-dispersed seeds, followed by dry-dehiscent fruits with non-winged seeds (38%) and seeds of dry-indehiscent fruits (37%). Lowest germination (29%) was for seeds from fleshy or pulpy fruits. MGT followed the reverse course. Germination data for seeds stored dry in the laboratory during one seeding cycle indicated six patterns of seed germination: (1) average germination percentage of fresh seeds lower than that of stored seeds, indicating an after-ripening requirement; (2) initial high germination percentage followed by low values, indicating a steep to moderate decline in viability following harvest; (3) no germination after 1 or 2 months of seed storage, due to complete loss of viability, indicating short seed longevity; (4) fresh seed germination in some species equalled the average germination value of stored seeds, indicating constant germination for one whole seeding cycle; (5) germination of both fresh and stored seeds remained consistently low throughout the season, indicating a requirement for some kind of pre-treatment or having poor quality of seeds; (6) initial high germination followed by decline and again increase, showing a seasonal rhythm of germination.

Quantitative trait loci associated with lettuce seed germination under different temperature and light environments

Genome ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 51 (11) ◽  
pp. 928-947 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eiji Hayashi ◽  
Natsuyo Aoyama ◽  
David W. Still
Keyword(s):  
Quantitative Trait Loci ◽  
Seed Germination ◽  
Path Analysis ◽  
Quantitative Trait ◽  
Germination Rate ◽  
Red Light ◽  
Seed Maturation ◽  
Lettuce Seed ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Trait Loci

Temperature and light are primary environmental cues affecting seed germination. To elucidate the genetic architecture underlying lettuce ( Lactuca sativa L.) seed germination under different environmental conditions, an F8 recombinant inbred line population consisting of 131 families was phenotyped for final germination and germination rate. Seeds were imbibed in water at 20 °C under continuous red light (20-Rc), 20 °C continuous dark (20-Dc), 31.5 °C continuous red light (31.5-Rc), 31.5 °C continuous dark (31.5-Dc), or 20 °C far-red light for 24 h followed by continuous dark (20-FRc-Dc). Thirty-eight quantitative trait loci (QTL) were identified from two seed maturation environments: 10 for final germination and 28 for germination rate. The amount of variation attributed to an individual QTL ranged from 9.3% to 17.2% and from 5.6% to 26.2% for final germination and germination rate, respectively. Path analysis indicated that factors affecting germination under 31.5-Rc or 31.5-Dc are largely the same, and these appear to differ from those employed under 20-FRc-Dc. QTL and path analysis support the notion of common and unique factors for germination under diverse temperature and light regimes. A highly significant effect of the seed maturation environment on subsequent germination capacity under environmental stress was observed.

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