Effects of some pretreatments on germination of bladder-senna (Colutea armena Boiss. and Huet.) and smoke-tree (Cotinus coggygria Scop.) seeds

This study was carried out to determine effects of pre-treatments including floating in hot water(100 degrees C) followed by continual cooling for 24 hr in the same water floating in tap water for 24 hr submersion in concentrate (98%) sulphuric acid (H2SO4) and cold stratification for different durations (20, 40 and 60 days) and their combinations on seed germination and to investigate how to overcome dormancy of seeds of Colutea armena Boiss. and Huet. and Cotinus coggygria Scop. The seeds were sown in polyethylene pots in the greenhouse and on seedbeds under open field conditions. The statistical design was a randomized complete block design with three replications. The highest germination percentage (77.19%), the best germination rate (16 days) and the highest growth rate (69.01%) were obtained from Colutea armena seeds that were submersed in sulphuric acid for 30 min and sown in the greenhouse. The pre-treatment of submersion in sulphuric acid for 20 min with cold stratification for 60 days gave the highest germination percentage (82.77%) and the highest growth rate (79.37%) in the greenhouse for Cotinus coggygria seeds. On the other hand, the best germination rate (9 days) was obtained from smoketree seeds that were cold stratified 60 days and sown under open field conditions. It can be stated that there is an affirmative effect of the greenhouse condition on germination percentage and growth rate values of the seeds used in this study     

Seed germination of three provenances of Pinus brutia (Ten.) as influenced by stratification, temperature and water stress

Seeds from three provenances of Pinus brutia were stratified for 0 or 45 d (days) at 4 +/- 1 degrees C and then germinated at 15 degrees C or 20 degrees C on filter paper saturated with polyethylene glycol solutions to provide water potentials of 0, -0.2 and -0.4 MPa (mega Pascal). Regardless of stratification, germination was lower at 15 degrees C than 20 degrees C for seeds of all provenances. Stratification significantly increased germination percentage at all water potentials regardless of the germination temperatures. Lowering the water potential to -0.4 MPa reduced germination for all three provenances in unstratified and stratified seeds when averaged for two temperatures, but reaction to the increased water stress was different among the provenances. Combined over two temperatures, stratified or unstratified seeds from the highest elevation (Cehennemdere) had the lowest germination performance at all water potentials, and stratified and nonstratified seeds from a coastal elevation (Silifke) had the highest germination parameters at the lowest water potential (-0.4 MPa). It might be concluded that seed germination and resistance to water stress vary according to provenance and stratification.     

Effects of different pretreatments on germination of Prunus serotina seed sources

Establishing intensive plantations of fast growing hardwood tree species that have high market values in the forest industry can narrow the gap between Turkey's demand and the supply of quality hardwood products. Black cherry (P. serotina Ehrh.) is a fast growing hardwood species with a high market value. Introducing and intensively growing black cherry (BC) in Turkey may significantly reduce the country's quality wood shortage. Adequate seed germination constitutes the first essential step for successful establishments. In this paper effects of different pretreatments, including artificial and natural stratification, on the seeds of different BC seed sources (SSs) were studied. Pretreatments had substantial effects on the dormancy breaking and germination behaviours of the SSs. Consecutive periods of complex warm and cold artificial stratification regimes longer than 90 days or natural stratification (where seeds were assumed to be naturally exposed to this complexity) resulted in best dormancy breaking and, in turn, germination among all pretreatments. Deeper dormancy and reduced germination rates of some BC seeds as the altitude of the source increases might suggest an ecological adaptive strategy of the species. BC may have deeper morphophysiological dormancy than is commonly believed. Seed size may have a positive effect on seed germination.     

Effects of cold stratification on germination rate and percentage of caper (Capparis ovata Desf.) seeds

Caper is an important plant because of its high adaptability to marginal agriculture fields that are not suitable for agricultural crops. Different parts of caper such as roots, fruits, flowers and buds can be used to increase the inhabitant's income. The goal of this research is to determine germination rate and percentage of caper according to different duration of cold stratification (10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 days) treatments. Cold stratification procedures under greenhouse condition were applied for eliminating seed dormancy to find the most suitable germination conditions because the presence of seed dormancy causes difficulties in seedling production. The seed germination started and stopped 21 and 57 days after sowing, respectively. While the highest germination percentage (46.6%) was obtained in seeds that were cold stratified for 60 days, the lowest germination percentage (3.6 7%) was determined in control seeds.     

Seed germination of Cistus creticus L. and Cistus laurifolius L. as influenced by dry-heat, soaking in distilled water and gibberellic acid

The effects of dry-heat and seed soaking in distilled water or in gibberellic acid on germination performance of Cistus creticus L. and C. laurifolius L. were studied in the present study Germination percentages of two Cistus species were low due to dormancy Soaking in distilled water for 24 hr resulted in 28% germination in C. creticus and 43% in C. laurifolius. Gibberellic acid applications (20, 100 and 250 mg l(-1)) for 24 hr gave 32, 30 and 23% germination, respectively in Cistus creticus and 33, 37 and 28% germination, respectively in C. laurifolius. Dry-heat pretreatments at 50, 80 and 100 degrees C for several times (1-60 min) also significantly increased germination percentage in two species. The highest germination in C. creticus was obtained with dry-heat at 100 degrees C for 1 or 5 min (80% and 83%, respectively) and in C. laurifolius at 100 degrees C for 5 min (87%). A significant increase in germination rate was also achieved under different pretreatments. The physiological dormancy caused by an impermeable seed coat can be overcome by dry-heat pretreatments in two Cistus species.     

The search for indigenous dune stabilizers: Germination requirements of selected South African species

The coastline of South Africa is characterized by extensive dune fields which are threatened by development, and thus the demand of stabilization of drift sand will increase. The non-invasive alien grass speciesAmmophila arenaria is at present the dominant sand stabilizer. Due to its foreign origin and invasiveness in North America its use was criticized and indigenous sand-binding species would be preferred. The germination requirements of the nativeArctotheca populifolia, Ipomoea pes-caprae. Myrica cordifolia andScaevola plumieri were investigated. The results showed that for all four species the total germination time and germination phase could be shortened and germination success (number of germinated seeds) improved. The different scarification and stratification treatments broke the dormancy ofI. pes-caprae, M. cordifolia andS. plumieri, whereas the seeds ofA. populifolia were not dormant. Seeds ofI. pes-caprae andM. cordifolia had induced an innate dormancy, respectively, whereas the type of dormancy in seeds ofS. plumieri dormancy processes remained unknown.     

Innovation in wildland shrub establishment

Fluid drilling has the potential to improve establishment of direct seeded shrubs. This paper briefly reviews some fluid drilling equipment and reports two studies addressing the problems of shrub fluid drilling. Study one demonstrates the potential for fluid drilling in establishing shrubs which require cold-moist treatment to break dormancy. This study also provides evidence of water soluable substances which inhibit the dormancy breaking process in some species. The existence of these inhibitors is postulated. The second study found that land imprinting significantly improved seedling establishment of fluid drilled surface germinating seeds such as those ofEurotia. Fluid drilling is a means to increase our control and manipulation of the seed and its environment, while retaining the capability for extensive low cost dispersal.     

Studies on seed germination and growth in weed species of rice field under salinity stress

An investigation was made to see the salt tolerance of 10 weed species of rice. Properly dried and treated seeds of weed species were placed on 9 cm diameter petridishes lined with Whatman No. 1 filter paper under 6 salinity regimes, viz. 0 (control), 4, 8, 16, 24 and 32 dS m(-1). The petri dishes were then kept in germinator at 25 +/- 1.0 degrees C and 12 hr light. The number of germinated seeds were recorded daily. The final germination percentage, germination index (GI), seedling vigour index, mean germination time and time for 50% germination were estimated. Root and shoot lengths of the weed seedlings were measured at 20 days after salt application and relative growth values were calculated. Results revealed that salinity decreased final germination percentage, seed of germination as measured by GI, and shoot and root length in all the species. Germination of most of the weed seeds was completely arrested (0) at 32 dS m(-1) salinity except in E. colona (12%) and C. iria (13.9%). The species C. iria, E. colona, J. linifolia and E. crusgalli showed better germination (above 30%) upto 24 dS m(-1) salinity level and were regarded as salt-tolerant weed species. J. linifolia, F. miliacea, L. chinensis and O. sativa L. (weedy rice) were graded as moderately tolerant and S. zeylanica, S. grosus and C. difformis were regarded as least tolerant weed species.     

极低频电磁场对萌发期大豆的生物学效应

观察了50Hz.0.2mT或6.0mT的电磁场暴露对大豆的萌发过程，丙二醛（MDA）含量，超氧化物歧化酶（SOD），过氧化氢酶（CAT），过氧化物酶（POD），蛋白酶活性和可溶性蛋白含量以及幼苗根茎的组织形态学影响。结果表明：电磁场暴露下，大豆的开始萌发时间由32h提前到8h，萌发率到达50％的时间由72h分别提前到48h(0.2mT组）和40h(6.0mT组）；MDA含量随磁场强度的增大而下降；SOD，POD活性随磁场强度的增大而升高，而CAT活性在0.2mT暴露组下降，在6.0mT暴露组升高；蛋白酶活性和可溶性蛋白含量分别随磁场强度的增大升高或降低。幼苗根茎细胞的大小和形态没有明显变化。结果提示，极低频电磁场可以改变抗氧化酶的活性，减缓脂质过氧化，增强蛋白酶的活性，促进大豆的萌发过程。图4参6。     

Annual life cycle of Chattonella spp., causative flagellates of noxious red tides in the Inland Sea of Japan

Effects of storage temperature on the dormancy and maturation of dormant cells of Chattonella spp. were investigated by the extinction dilution method using sediment samples collected in 1984 after the blooming in Harima-Nada. Seasonality of germinability in fresh sediments was also studied in 1985. A storage period of more than 4 months with a low temperature (11°C) was essential for the maturation to induce the germination capacity of dormant cells. The optimal temperature for germination (22°C) had no effects on the maturation. Using fresh Suo-Nada sediments, a marked seasonality of germinability was confirmed. It was weak from autumn to early winter, then strengthened gradually up to a high level, which was maintained between spring and early summer, and again decreased rapidly during summer. The annual life cycle of Chattonella spp., including vetetative and dormant phases, was summarized as follows: (1) vegetative cells in early summer originate from germination of dormant cells in sediments; (2) they form overwintering dormant cells during the summer season; (3) dormant cells spend a period of spontaneous dormancy until next spring; (4) the duration of post dormancy, an enforced one due to low temperatures, follows until early summer. The life cycle of Chattonella spp. is therefore well adapted to the temperature regime in temperate seas such as the Seto Inland Sea of Japan.     

Thieves or mutualists? Pulp feeders enhance endozoochore local recruitment

The persistence of mutualisms despite the strong incidence of exploiters could be explained if exploiters deny one or more services (i.e., cheat) while eventually supplying some subtler but critical services. Pulp feeders usually ingest fruit reward without dispersing seeds and thus are considered to be mainly cheaters or thieves of seed-disperser mutualisms. By consuming the fruit pulp, however, they could release seeds from pulp inhibitory effect, enhancing germination and, potentially, subsequent seedling emergence, growth, survival, and thus local recruitment. We evaluated such a largely neglected hypothesis by considering the interaction between Pyrus bourgaeana and its pulp feeders. We experimentally showed that pericarp removal had a consistent strong positive effect on seed performance (e.g., lower rotting and higher germination percentages) and seedling fate (greater emergence, growth, and survival to two years old). Interestingly, these relatively large positive effects of depulpation on plant fitness persisted for a surprisingly long time. Though seedlings experienced higher mortality under fruiting conspecifics, the benefits of depulpation were not overridden by high propagule mortality beneath fruiting trees or in adverse microhabitats after two years of monitoring. Specifically, the cumulative probability of establishment for depulped seeds was 4-25 times higher than for seeds in whole ripe fruits. Thus, under some circumstances, pulp feeders can provide essential services to endozoochorous plants. Our study contributes to clarifying the apparent paradox of plant-frugivore mutualisms that persist in the face of exploitation by pulp feeders. Because "thieves" and "mutualists" refer to the extremes of a complex continuum, and because organisms displaying concurrent cheating and honest behaviors during different host stages are likely prevalent, the persistent language of mutualists vs. thieves, cheaters, or exploiters might be misleading.     

Prediction of germination rates of weed species: Relationships between germination speed parameters and species traits

In fields, the timing of weed emergence flushes is mostly related to the timing and rate of seed germination, which depend on seed dormancy level, soil temperature and water potential conditions as well as soil tillage and crop sowing date. Seed germination parameters are essential in weed dynamics models to account for the effects of soil conditions on weed demography. Since these parameters are difficult to measure, our objective was to test the possibility of estimating them from easily accessible information. Seed germination parameters (germination lag-time, time to mid-germination and mid-germination rate) were measured or collected from the literature for 25 weed species with contrasted seed characteristics. Correlations were then searched for between these parameters and morphological, chemical and physiological seed traits as well as seed dormancy level. The dormancy level was positively correlated with speed of germination parameters. Earliness of germination was positively correlated with seed lipid content and the seed area to mass ratio. Germination was also earlier and faster in species with a high base temperature for germination. These relationships explained about half the observed variability in germination speed parameters but should be further tested before being used to predict the germination behaviour of weed species in the field in different seasons.     

Influence of acorn size and storage duration on moisture content, germination and survival of Quercus petraea (Mattuschka)

This study was conducted to evaluate how acom size (small, medium and large) and acorn storage duration (0, 5 and 17 months) influenced Quercus petraea (Mattuschka) moisture content and germination. Acorn size and storage duration did not significantly affect acorn moisture content, but they significantly affected acorn germination performance. When averaged for three acorn sizes, loss of germination performance occurred after 17 months of storage even when the moisture content did not reduce significantly and remain at the initial level (32.6%). Maximum germination percentage was observed in large and medium size classes before storage (93 and 95%, respectively) and after 5-month storage (94 and 93%, respectively), but after 17-month storage medium acorn size class exhibited the highest germination (68%). Small seed size class exhibited the lowest germination percentage and rate in each acorn storage duration. Acorn size also significantly affected seedling emergence and survival in the nursery and seedling emergence and survival was the lowest in small seed size class (85 and 80%, respectively). Although seedling survival of one-year seedlings in the nursery increased up to large seed size class, maximum survival in nursery conditions was observed in large and medium size classes (89 and 91%, respectively). Thus, acorn size grading in Q. petraea may result in higher germination performance within in a seedbed.     

Clove bud oil: an efficient, economical and widely available oil for the inhibition of wheat seed germination

Pre-harvest sprouting refers to the precocious germination of the grain in the spike prior to harvest as a result of moist weather conditions at harvest time. From the agricultural viewpoint, it is necessary to impose an exogenous dormancy to wheat seeds in order to improve the resistance of seed to pre-harvest sprouting. In this regard, we found that clove bud essential oil is a strong inhibitor for wheat seed germination. The extract obtained from clove bud by supercritical fluid extraction using CO₂ as solvent minimized the number of extracts to two compounds, eugenol and eugenyl acetate. Eugenol, as the main constituent of the oil, was responsible for its strong inhibitory activity in wheat seeds. The aqueous solution of clove bud oil was submitted to germination assay at various concentrations from 50 to 400 mg/L. Complete inhibition of seed germination was recorded when the concentration was 400 mg/L. Roots and sprouts have similar sensitivity to inhibitory effect. In an empirical study, the synergistic cooperation of eugenol and eugenyl acetate from clove bud oil in the inhibition of seed germination was found to be a 1:1 ratio. The clove bud essential oil is widely available and will broaden the horizon of applications for natural and safe inhibitors in the fields.     

黄河源区退化高寒草地土壤种子库:种子萌发的数量和动态

对青藏高原黄河源区不同退化程度高寒草地的土壤种子库土样用土壤分析筛进行浓缩,并以萌发法分析土壤种子库萌发种子数量和动态.结果表明,孔径0.25~2 mm的土壤分析筛分离土样中萌发种子可达萌发种子总量的85%~97%,而小于0.25 mm的土样中未发现种子.因此,用0.25 mm孔径大小的土壤筛对高寒草地土壤种子库土样进行大规模浓缩是一种方便、可靠的方法.4种不同退化程度高寒草地(A:未退化草甸;B:轻度退化草甸;C:中度退化草甸;D:重度退化草甸)的土壤种子库在实验室条件下萌发的种子数量分别为:A 1 194~3 744粒/m2,平均2 421.3粒/m2;B 5 376~1 0912粒/m2,平均7 786.7粒/m2;C 2 304~1 3216粒/m2,平均8 695.5粒/m2;D 4 768~12 352粒/m2,平均8 125.9粒/m2.除样地A外,其它3个样地的可萌发种子数量差异不大.单子叶植物种子在培养到d 10左右开始萌发,双子叶植物在5~7 d内开始萌发,前者3 wk后基本不再萌发,后者5 wk左右停止萌发.4个样地土壤种子库种子萌发主要集中在第2~3周,并表现出近似单峰型格局.图1表3参39     

标准化测试种子发芽和根伸长毒性试验的基质应用研究

种子发芽和根伸长毒性试验是研究和评价新化学物质对陆生生物危害性的重要手段之一。为探究在标准化测试中能否使用非推荐基质,以及使用推荐基质时能否用灭菌法替代酸洗法处理石英砂,选取8种植物种子在5种基质中进行试验。结果表明,不同基质对种子发芽率的影响较小,但基质较低的养分含量和特殊的物理结构易对部分种子根长形成胁迫,甚至直接制约根系发育。生菜、水稻在5种基质中的发芽率和根长无显著性差异;绿豆、甘蓝、西瓜在酸洗石英砂中的根长分别为25.1、24.5、29.0 mm,在其余4种基质中根长显著缩短;青瓜在吸水纸和发芽纸中发芽率偏低,仅为83.3%;玉米在酸洗石英砂和灭菌石英砂中的发芽率和根长无明显差异,为100%/45.7 mm和93.3%/44.8 mm,其他基质中显著偏低。标准化测试条件下,以推荐的酸洗石英砂上各种子的发芽率和根长为评判依据,生菜和水稻试验可使用本研究中任意基质,绿豆、甘蓝和西瓜试验仅可使用酸洗石英砂作为基质,青瓜和玉米试验可使用干热灭菌法替代酸洗法处理石英砂,并且青瓜试验还可使用滤纸基质。以上结果为测试机构在工作实践中优化试验条件提供理论依据。     

部分菊科入侵种种子(瘦果)的萌发能力和幼苗建群特性

对入侵种种子生物学各方面的了解有助于更好地预测入侵趋势和评估可持续管理的策略.研究通过对部分菊科入侵种种子(瘦果)进行的室内萌发实验和土壤埋藏实验,通过与相关研究的对比和分析,对这些入侵种的萌发能力和幼苗建群特性进行了研究.10个入侵种种子室内萌发实验的结果表明,在25℃、12h光照的情况下,除钻形紫菀和一年蓬以外,被研究的其它8个种的终萌发率超过了50%,而且都显示出早期快速萌发的特点.用SPSS的曲线拟合工具对10个种的累积萌发趋势进行了曲线回归分析,对应的最佳模型均为三次曲线方程.不同土壤埋藏深度下幼苗出苗实验的结果表明,菊科8个入侵种的种子在表土的出苗率均最高,随着覆土厚度的增加,种子的出苗率逐渐降低,当覆土厚度超过3 cm以上时,所有种子均不能出苗.种子在不同的埋藏深度的出苗情况与种子的大小有关,较大种子破土能力相对较强;种子在不同的埋藏深度的出苗情况与种子本身的萌发能力也相关.土壤埋藏期限的实验结果表明,随埋藏时期的增加,小蓬草、苏门白酒草和一年蓬3个人侵种种子的活力逐步降低,在土壤中埋藏12个月后,其活力分别为21.34%、18.15%和27.38%.这些入侵种较广的种子萌发温度适应范围和高萌发率为防除工作带来了困难.在生产上,可通过不同时期的翻耕、将种子深埋等措施减少这些入侵种的危害.     

ABA对米槠和格氏栲种子发育的影响

采用酶联免疫分析法（ＥＬＩＳＡ） 提取和测定米槠和格氏栲发育过程中果实内ＡＢＡ含量,并用不同浓度ＡＢＡ喂养,测定果实不同发育期对外源ＡＢＡ的敏感性．用放射性同位素法测定ＡＢＡ对贮藏蛋白质的积累作用,结果表明：在米槠和格氏栲种子发育过程中内源ＡＢＡ 含量逐渐上升,两者均在１０ 月５ 日达到峰值,米槠为１６４８ ｎｇｇ,格氏栲为１ ４６８ ｎｇｇ,随后ＡＢＡ含量均逐渐下降．果实成熟采收时,ｃ（ＡＢＡ） 仅为高峰时的１９．随着果实的发育对外加ＡＢＡ的敏感性逐渐变小,ｃ（ＡＢＡ）＝１０－４ ｍｏｌＬ－１ 可以完全抑制１０ 月２５ 日（ 米槠） 和１０ 月１５ 日（ 格氏栲） 前种子发芽,但对完全成熟的种子ｃ（ＡＢＡ）＝１０－２ ｍｏｌＬ－１ 亦不能抑制发芽．ＡＢＡ 对成熟前期胚的贮藏蛋白质合成无影响,但能促进成熟中后期胚的贮藏蛋白质的积累作用,ＡＢＡ维持米槠和格氏栲贮藏蛋白质合成和积累作用表现在转录水平上．     

Effect of cadmium on germination, coleoptile and root growth of barley seeds in the presence of gibberellic acid and kinetin

Effect of cadmium on barley seeds treated with kinetin and gibberellic acid was investigated. As usual, cadmium has inhibited seed germination, and showed important inhibitory effects on roots and coleoptile growth after germination. In general, increase in cadmium concentration caused a greater inhibition of germination, root and coleoptile growth. The adverse effect of cadmium on root and coleoptile growth was more pronounced than that on germination. While testa was pierced by radicle (an indication of germination), no root or coleoptile development was observed above at concentration of 3-9.5 mM CdCl2xH2O. Low concentrations of cadmium have inhibited the root growth more than it did on coleoptile growth. Treatment of seeds with gibberellic acid and kinetin did not show any significant difference on the effect of cadmium in germination. However, inhibition of coleoptile elongation by cadmium has decreased a very much after kinetin application. The same result, although with lower rates when compared to kinetin, has been obtained for GA3 as well. In addition, the inhibitory effect of cadmium on root growth increased even more after kinetin application. The results have been found statistically significant through the least significant different (LSD) test at levels ofp < 0.05 and p < 0.01.     

UV-B增加与酸雨复合处理对大豆种子萌发和幼苗生长的影响

研究了UV-B辐射增加与酸雨的复合处理对大豆种子萌发和幼苗生长的影响。结果表明：UV-B辐射增加对大豆种子的萌发没有影响，酸雨处理降低了大豆种子的发芽率。UV-B辐射增加与酸雨的复合处理，降低了幼苗的株高、绿叶数、叶面积、干质量、叶绿素和蒸腾速率，复合胁迫的下降幅度明显高于单一因子胁迫，并且下降幅度受UV-B辐射强度与酸雨pH的影响。UV-B辐射增加与酸雨处理在抑制幼苗生长上具有协同作用。