Dormancy-Breaking and Germination Requirements for Seeds of Sorbus alnifolia (Siebold & Zucc.) K.Koch (Rosaceae), a Mesic Forest Tree with High Ornamental Potential

Sorbus alnifolia (Siebold & Zucc.) K.Koch (Rosaceae) is an economically important tree in the temperate forests of Eastern China. In recent decades, ever-increasing use and modification of forestlands have resulted in major degeneration of the natural habitat of S. alnifolia. Moreover, S. alnifolia seeds germinate in a complicated way, leading to a high cost of propagation. The current study aimed to determine the requirements for breaking seed dormancy and for germination as well as to characterize the type of seed dormancy present in this species. Moreover, the roles of temperature, cold/warm stratification, and gibberellic acid (GA3) in breaking dormancy were tested combined with a study of the soil seed bank. The results showed that intact seeds of S. alnifolia were dormant, requiring 150 days of cold stratification to achieve the maximum germination percentage at 5/15 °C. Exposure of the seeds to ranges of temperatures at 15/25 °C and 20/30 °C resulted in secondary dormancy. Scarifying seed coat and partial removal of the cotyledon promoted germination. Compared with long-term cold stratification, one month of warm stratification plus cold stratification was superior in breaking dormancy. Application of GA3 did not break the dormancy during two months of incubation. Seeds of S. alnifolia formed a transient seed bank. The viability of freshly matured S. alnifolia seeds was 87.65% ± 11.67%, but this declined to 38.25% after 6-months of storage at room temperature. Seeds of S. alnifolia have a deep physiological dormancy; cold stratification will be useful in propagating this species. The long chilling requirements of S. alnifolia seeds would avoid seedling death in winter.

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Seed dormancy and germination of the subalpine geophyte Crocus alatavicus (Iridaceae)

Australian Journal of Botany ◽

10.1071/bt13098 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 61 (5) ◽

pp. 376 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Ziyan Fu ◽

Dunyan Tan ◽

Jerry M. Baskin ◽

Carol C. Baskin

Keyword(s):

Central Asia ◽

Seed Dormancy ◽

Natural Habitat ◽

Early Summer ◽

Cold Stratification ◽

Dormancy Breaking ◽

Morphophysiological Dormancy ◽

Radicle Emergence ◽

Germination Requirements ◽

Seed Dormancy And Germination

Crocus alatavicus Regel et Sem. is a cormous perennial primarily distributed in central Asia that may have potential in horticulture; however, relatively little is known about seed dormancy in the genus Crocus. The primary aim of the present study was to identify the dormancy breaking and germination requirements of seeds of C. alatvicus and to assign them to a dormancy category. In its natural habitat, the underdeveloped embryo in C. alatavicus seeds grows in early summer, and radicles emerge in early autumn. However, cotyledon emergence is delayed until the following spring. Radicle emergence was promoted by warm stratification and cotyledon emergence by cold stratification. GA3 was ineffective in promoting either radicle or epicotyl emergence. We conclude that seeds of C. alatavicus have deep simple epicotyl morphophysiological dormancy of the type C1bB(root) – C3(shoot). To our knowledge, this is the first detailed study on the ecophysiology of seed dormancy and germination in the genus Crocus.

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Seed Dormancy and Soil Seed Bank of the Two Alpine Primula Species in the Hengduan Mountains of Southwest China

Frontiers in Plant Science ◽

10.3389/fpls.2021.582536 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

De-Li Peng ◽

Li-E Yang ◽

Juan Yang ◽

Zhi-Min Li

Keyword(s):

Seed Dormancy ◽

Seed Bank ◽

Southwest China ◽

Soil Seed Bank ◽

Cold Stratification ◽

Hengduan Mountains ◽

Dormancy Release ◽

Physiological Dormancy ◽

Alpine Environments ◽

Seed Dormancy And Germination

The timing of germination has long been recognized as a key seedling survival strategy for plants in highly variable alpine environments. Seed dormancy and germination mechanisms are important factors that determining the timing of germination. To gain an understanding of how these mechanisms help to synchronize the germination event to the beginning of the growing season in two of the most popular Primula species (P. secundiflora and P. sikkimensis) in the Hengduan Mountains, Southwest China, we explored their seed dormancy and germination characteristics in the laboratory and their soil seed bank type in the field. Germination was first tested using fresh seeds at two alternating temperatures (15/5 and 25/15°C) and five constant temperatures (5, 10, 15, 20, and 25°C) in light and dark, and again after dry after-ripening at room temperature for 6 months. Germination tests were also conducted at a range of temperatures (5–30, 25/15, and 15/5°C) in light and dark for seeds dry cold stored at 4°C for 4 years, after which they were incubated under the above-mentioned incubation conditions after different periods (4 and 8 weeks) of cold stratification. Base temperatures (Tb) and thermal times for 50% germination (θ50) were calculated. Seeds were buried at the collection site to test persistence in the soil for 5 years. Dry storage improved germination significantly, as compared with fresh seeds, suggesting after-ripening released physiological dormancy (PD); however, it was not sufficient to break dormancy. Cold stratification released PD completely after dry storage, increasing final germination, and widening the temperature range from medium to both high and low; moreover, the Tb and θ50 for germination decreased. Fresh seeds had a light requirement for germination, facilitating formation of a persistent soil seed bank. Although the requirement reduced during treatments for dormancy release or at lower alternating temperatures (15/5°C), a high proportion of viable seeds did not germinate even after 5 years of burial, showing that the seeds of these two species could cycle back to dormancy if the conditions were unfavorable during spring. In this study, fresh seeds of the two Primula species exhibited type 3 non-deep physiological dormancy and required light for germination. After dormancy release, they had a low thermal requirement for germination control, as well as rapid seed germination in spring and at/near the soil surface from the soil seed bank. Such dormancy and germination mechanisms reflect a germination strategy of these two Primula species, adapted to the same alpine environments.

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Chilling-Requirement Release of Seed and Bud Dormancy in Apricot

Journal of Horticulture and Plant Research ◽

10.18052/www.scipress.com/jhpr.14.1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

Mohamed A. Seif El-Yazal ◽

Samir A. Seif El-Yazal

Keyword(s):

Seed Dormancy ◽

Dynamic Models ◽

Germination Percentage ◽

Cold Stratification ◽

High Positive Correlation ◽

Flowering Date ◽

Chilling Requirements ◽

Breaking Dormancy ◽

The Hours ◽

Breaking Seed Dormancy

Dormancy shows common physiological features in buds and seeds. Specific period of chilling is usually required to release dormancy. Reproductive meristems and embryos display dormancy mechanisms in specialized structures named respectively buds and seeds that arrest the growth of perennial plants until environmental conditions are optimal for survival. Chilling requirements for breaking dormancy were studied for 3 successive years in 20 seedling apricot trees which spanned the range of flowering times in these trees. Different methods for estimating chilling requirements were evaluated and compared, and correlations between chilling requirements and flowering date were established. The trees examined showed a range of chilling requirements, chill hours (CH) between 199 CH and 274 CH, and chill units, (CU), between 612CU and 873CU. The results obtained in different years by the Utah and Dynamic models were more homogeneous with respect to the hours below 7 °C model. The apricot trees showed important differences concerning flowering date, and the results indicate a high positive correlation between chilling requirements and flowering date.Moreover, a specific low-temperature stratification treatment was required to overcome seed dormancy. 5°C cold stratification was found to be the best for breaking seed dormancy and germination. Increased seed germination percentage was recorded when the period of stratification prolonged. Apricot seeds required a cold stratification of about 12-15 days to reach maximum germination.

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Non-Deep Physiological Dormancy in Seed and Germination Requirements of Lysimachia coreana Nakai

Horticulturae ◽

10.3390/horticulturae7110490 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (11) ◽

pp. 490

Author(s):

Saeng Geul Baek ◽

Jin Hyun Im ◽

Myeong Ja Kwak ◽

Cho Hee Park ◽

Mi Hyun Lee ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Seed Germination ◽

Seed Dormancy ◽

Germination Rate ◽

Seed Viability ◽

Cold Stratification ◽

Dormancy Breaking ◽

Viability Test ◽

Physiological Dormancy ◽

Different Temperatures ◽

Germination Requirements

This study aimed to determine the type of seed dormancy and to identify a suitable method of dormancy-breaking for an efficient seed viability test of Lysimachia coreana Nakai. To confirm the effect of gibberellic acid (GA3) on seed germination at different temperatures, germination tests were conducted at 5, 15, 20, 25, 20/10, and 25/15 °C (12/12 h, light/dark), using 1% agar with 100, 250, and 500 mg·L−1 GA3. Seeds were also stratified at 5 and 25/15 °C for 6 and 9 weeks, respectively, and then germinated at the same temperature. Seeds treated with GA3 demonstrated an increased germination rate (GR) at all temperatures except 5 °C. The highest GR was 82.0% at 25/15 °C and 250 mg·L−1 GA3 (4.8 times higher than the control (14.0%)). Additionally, GR increased after cold stratification, whereas seeds did not germinate after warm stratification at all temperatures. After cold stratification, the highest GR was 56.0% at 25/15 °C, which was lower than the GR observed after GA3 treatment. We hypothesized that L. coreana seeds have a non-deep physiological dormancy and concluded that 250 mg·L−1 GA3 treatment is more effective than cold stratification (9 weeks) for L. coreana seed-dormancy-breaking.

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Viability of recalcitrant Araucaria angustifolia seeds in storage and in a soil seed bank

Journal of Forestry Research ◽

10.1007/s11676-019-01001-z ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 31 (6) ◽

pp. 2413-2422 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ezequiel Gasparin ◽

José M. R. Faria ◽

Anderson C. José ◽

Olivia A. O. Tonetti ◽

Rodrigo A. de Melo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Water Content ◽

Seed Bank ◽

Forest Cover ◽

Soil Seed Bank ◽

Natural Habitat ◽

Seed Viability ◽

Germplasm Conservation ◽

Forest Edge ◽

Araucaria Angustifolia ◽

Subsequent Decrease

Abstract Araucaria angustifolia (Bertol.) Kuntze is a representative species of the Mixed Ombrophilous Forest in the Atlantic Forest Biome of Brazil. The development of a germplasm conservation protocol for long-term seed bank storage is compromised for this species, as it is sensitive to desiccation. Furthermore, in situ establishment of a soil seed bank in its natural habitat may be limited. This study evaluates the storability of two provenances of A. angustifolia seeds and their behavior in an artificial soil seed bank in two forest environments (understory and edge). Results show that both seed provenances may be stored at 5 °C for approximately 12 months, retaining high viability. The subsequent decrease in germination was associated with a reduction and an increase in seed water content, as well as with increased electrical conductivity. In the understory environment, seed viability was above 85% for the first 60 days, and at the end of the experiment (270 days), seedlings emerged. However, at the forest edge, there was a total loss of seed viability after 120 days associated with a reduction in water content and high predation. It is concluded, therefore, that short-term storage of A. angustifolia seeds is possible in a cold room, which is fundamental to supply seed demand outside the production period. Forest cover conservation is important for regeneration and conservation of the species.

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The role of seedbanks in invasions by Hyparrhenia hirta (L.) Stapf in Australia

The Rangeland Journal ◽

10.1071/rj19039 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 41 (5) ◽

pp. 383 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Vinod K. Chejara ◽

Paul Kristiansen ◽

R. D. B. (Wal) Whalley ◽

Brian M. Sindel ◽

Christopher Nadolny

Keyword(s):

South African ◽

Seed Production ◽

Seed Dormancy ◽

Seed Bank ◽

Soil Seed Bank ◽

Perennial Grass ◽

Seed Banks ◽

Invasive Weed ◽

South Wales ◽

Poor Seed

Hyparrhenia hirta (L.) Stapf (also known as Coolatai grass, South African bluestem or thatching grass) has become a serious invasive weed in Australia. Within its native range, it is generally regarded as a useful grass particularly for thatching, and seed production is low with a low soil seed bank of from 2 to 200seedsm–2. Several hundred accessions of H. hirta were deliberately introduced into Australia up until the 1980s and nearly all were discarded because of poor seed production. However, at least one introduction in the 1890s in northern New South Wales (NSW), Australia, has possibly contributed to the present serious weed problem. Annual seed production from roadside stands in northern NSW ranged from 7000 to 92000seedsm–2 in 2015. The soil seed bank under dense H. hirta infestations in the same region in 2006 and 2007, was found to be ~30000seedsm–2 mostly confined to the top 2cm, with few dormant seeds and a large reduction of these numbers over the next 12 months when further seed input was prevented. Similar studies of other perennial grass weeds have found seed banks of similar sizes, but dormancy mechanisms ensure that their seed banks last for at least 10 years without further seed input. These results suggest that the present weedy populations of H. hirta have dramatically increased fecundity enabling a large seed bank to develop beneath dense stands. The development of seed dormancy and consequently a long-lived seed bank would make this weed even more difficult to control. Until seed dormancy develops, control of H. hirta in northern NSW can be effective provided further input into the seed bank can be prevented.

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Factors Affecting Seed Dormancy and Germination of Greater Bur-Parsley (Turgenia latifolia)

Planta Daninha ◽

10.1590/s0100-83582018360100125 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 36 ◽

Author(s):

M. REZVANI ◽

S.A. SADATIAN ◽

H. NIKKHAHKOUCHAKSARAEI

Keyword(s):

Seed Germination ◽

Environmental Factors ◽

Seed Dormancy ◽

Seedling Emergence ◽

Potassium Nitrate ◽

Germination Percentage ◽

Dormancy Breaking ◽

Planting Depth ◽

Factors Affecting ◽

Drought And Salt Stresses

ABSTRACT: Our knowledge about seed dormancy breaking and environmental factors affecting seed germination of greater bur-parsley (Turgenia latifolia) is restricted. This study has addressed some seed dormancy breaking techniques, including different concentrations of gibberellic acid (GA3) and potassium nitrate (KNO3), leaching duration, physical scarification as well as some environmental factors effective on seed germination such as salt and drought stresses, pH and seed planting depth. Seed germination was promoted with lower concentrations of KNO3 (0.01 to 0.02 g L-1), while higher concentrations reduced germination percentage. Seed dormancy was declined by low concentrations of GA3 up to 100 ppm. Seeds of greater bur-parsley germinated in a range of pH from 3 to 7. With enhancement of drought and salt stresses, seed germination decreased. Also, there was no seed germination in a high level of stresses. Seedling emergence reduced as planting depth increased. Use of GA3, KNO3, leaching and physical scarification had a positive effect on seed dormancy breaking of greater bur-parsley. The information from the study increases our knowledge about seed dormancy breaking techniques, response of germination to drought and salt stresses and also determination of distribution regions of greater bur-parsley in the future.

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ESTUDOS DE UM BANCO DE SEMENTES NO SOLO DE UM FRAGMENTO FLORESTAL COM Araucaria angustifolia NO ESTADO DO PARANÁ

FLORESTA ◽

10.5380/rf.v41i2.21881 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 41 (2) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Marcelo Lima de Souza ◽

Antônio Carlos Nogueira ◽

Renato Luiz Grisi Macedo ◽

Carlos Roberto Sanquetta ◽

Nelson Venturin

Keyword(s):

Vertical Distribution ◽

Seed Bank ◽

Tree Species ◽

Soil Seed Bank ◽

Seedling Emergence ◽

Forest Tree ◽

Araucaria Angustifolia ◽

Forest Fragment ◽

Regeneration Strategy ◽

Soil Layers

O objetivo do presente trabalho foi estudar o banco de sementes no solo de um fragmento florestal com Araucaria angustifolia (Bert.) O. Ktze. no estado do Paraná. Para isso, investigou-se a distribuição vertical das sementes, a influência do sombreamento sobre a emergência das plântulas, sua identificação e quantificação. A distribuição vertical de sementes em quatro camadas foi analisada através da identificação e quantificação das plântulas emergentes em casa de vegetação, levando em consideração o nível de sombreamento. Os dados referentes ao banco de sementes foram obtidos no período de 210 dias, por meio de identificação botânica e contagens semanais das plântulas germinadas das quatro profundidades de solo em quatro parcelas experimentais. As amostras foram colocadas para germinar sob 0 e 50% de sombreamento em casa de vegetação. Os resultados obtidos no estudo de banco de sementes permitiram as seguintes conclusões: o banco de sementes parece ser pobre em espécies arbóreas e abundante em espécies herbáceas; o banco de sementes das espécies arbóreas foi maior na segunda camada; ocorreu maior germinação sob 0% de sombreamento. Provavelmente, a estratégia de regeneração da maioria das espécies presentes nessa área de estudo parece não ser pelo banco de sementes no solo.Palavras-chave: Banco de sementes no solo; Araucaria angustifolia; fragmento florestal. AbstractSoil seed bank analysis in a forest fragment with Araucaria angustifolia, State of Parana. A research on soil seed bank had been developed in an Araucaria angustifolia (Bert.) O. Ktze. forest fragment in the State of Paraná. It had surveyed vertical distribution of seeds within the soil and shadow influence on seedling emergence, besides the improvement of their identification and quantity measuring. Vertical distribution of seeds in four soil layers had been analyzed by identification and quantification of germinated seedlings in greenhouse, with full light or 50% shaded conditions. Data related to seedlings of trees, weeds, grasses and lianas were calculated separately in weekly intervals during a 210-day period. Results suggested that the soil seed bank in this forest was poor in relation to tree species, in diversity as far as density. On the other hand, seeds of grasses and weeds decreased along vertical soil profile, and forest tree species tended to abundance in the 5-10 cm layer. Germination was higher with full light than in 50% shaded conditions. Probably, regeneration strategy for most species in this focused area doesn’t seem to be soil seed bank.Keywords: Soil seed bank; Araucaria angustifolia; forest fragment.

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