Influence of pretreatment and desiccation on the germination of Laurus nobilis L. seeds

The effects of moist stratification, gibberellic acid (GA3) in combination with cold-moist stratification and desiccation on the germination of bay laurel (Laurus nobilis L.) seeds were studied. It was found that the external fleshy pericarp caused dormancy. There was also embryo dormancy and it was broken in seeds lacking pericarp either warm-moist stratification (20 degrees C day/4 degrees C night) or cold-moist stratification (4 degrees C) for 8 and 10 weeks, respectively. Gibberellic acid had little effect on germination percent and germination value of seeds without pericarp when used alone but significantly increased overall germination performance when used with cold-moist stratification. The viability of seeds dropped when the moisture content of the seeds was reduced by desiccation, and the time required to reach the critical moisture levels in the seeds differed in the different desiccation temperatures. The critical minimum seed moisture content for bay laurel was around 15% and the seeds showed the typical behavior of recalcitrant seeds.     

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     

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.     

Interaction between water soluble and volatile compounds of Cistus ladanifer L.

Summary. Phytotoxic activity of single and combined application of water soluble and volatile compounds of Cistus ladanifer on germination and early root growth of subterranean clover was investigated. Total germination, lag and speed of germination were both inhibited and stimulated, with the activity of volatiles on total germination depending upon the presence of water solubles. Antagonism between water solubles and volatiles was always found, resulting in a reduction of inhibition or a shift from inhibition to stimulation. It is suggested that the simultaneous presence of water solubles and volatiles might result in changes of the chemical nature of metabolites released by C. ladanifer. Early root growth was always inhibited but only by water solubles, and no interaction was found. The ecological implications of these results are discussed in terms of the exhaustion of competitors seedbanks by a two-step process in which germination is less inhibited or even stimulated by water solubles and volatiles, followed by a stronger and volatiles-independent inhibition of early root growth. Received 13 June 2001; accepted 13 Dezember 2001.     

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.     

Simulation of germination of pioneer species along an experimental drought gradient

The germination of ten plant species from the Iberian Peninsula was assessed along a water deficit gradient between -0. 1652 (moist) and -0.4988 MPa (dry) of osmotic potential, created by addition of increasing concentrations of polyethylene glycol (PEG 6000) to distilled water in which plants were grown hydroponically. The level and rate of germination of Daucus carota and Thapsia villosa significantly decreased with decreasing psi. Seeds of Dactylis glomerata and Dittrichia viscosa had positive germination responses to low osmotic potentials; germination of Epilobium hirsutum was not affected by osmotic potential. Germination of Medicago arabica, Cynosurus cristatus, Cistus ladanifer and Cistus albidus, was no favored by the addition of polyethylene glycol (PEG). Germination of Foeniculum vulgare and Thapsia villosa was inhibited by PEG.     

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.     

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.     

Allelopathic potential of Cistus ladanifer chemicals in response to variations of light and temperature

Summary. Earlier studies have demonstrated the allelopathic potential of the exudate of Cistus ladanifer leaves, and have identified the compounds responsible for the effect. It is here shown that the effect of each of these compounds and their interactions on germination and seedling development varies depending on the light and temperature parameters to which they are subjected. The allelochemicals show a fairly heterogeneous response when studied separately, there being no general pattern to the behaviour. When they act conjointly, however, their activity is enhanced by high temperatures, and the greatest phytotoxicity in inhibiting both germination and seedling development is attained with high temperatures and long photoperiods. These results suggest that the environmental factors temperature and photoperiod may alter the allelopathic effect of Cistus ladanifer. Received 5 December 2001; accepted 11 March 2002.     

Increased germination of diverse crop-wild hybrid sunflower seeds.

Gene flow from crop fields to wild populations produces hybrids that often differ from their wild counterparts in growth form, phenology, and life history characteristics. Germination and dormancy dynamics have a strong influence on population persistence, competitive dynamics, and ultimately, plant fitness. They may also play a role in modifying crop gene introgression, which has been of primary interest since the release of transgenic crops. We investigated how seed germination and dormancy were affected by sunflower crop wild hybridization in both laboratory and field experiments. Hybridization increased seed germination and decreased dormancy. Of the nine wild populations we assayed, most of their hybrids had higher germination than the wilds of the same population. However, absolute germination levels varied by population and testing environment. Hybrids produced by three different crop lines differed in germination, and their germination rankings shifted across populations. Increased germination in hybrids could accelerate crop gene introgression, provided that hybrids germinate in an appropriate period. Differences in relative germination of wild and hybrid seed indicated that the effect of germination on introgression will likely vary by population due, in part, to initial levels of dormancy in the population. Therefore, the implications of gene flow from crops with novel characteristics or from transgenic crops will also vary by population.     

稻田土壤种子库研究进展

土壤种子库是指存在于土壤表面和土壤中全部存活种子的总和。稻田土壤种子库是地上杂草产生的根本来源。我国是一个水稻种植大国,目前关于稻田土壤种子库的研究还不够全面和深入。研究稻田土壤种子库对于防治稻田草害具有重要指导意义,同时也是种子库研究领域的一个重要补充。取样方法和取样时间是研究土壤种子库的关键所在。而萌发法是最常见的判定方法。关于稻田土壤种子库大小的结论相差很大,从103~105 m-2不等。稻田土壤种子库中的杂草主要有19科55种,一般的稻田可检出10科或20种左右。种子的垂直分布格局主要受耕作强度的影响。70%~80%甚至更多的杂草种子分布在0~10 cm。稻田土壤种子库由于萌发、捕食、衰老和种子散布等原因具有季节动态。轮作制度、耕作方式、不同施肥处理以及除草方式等对稻田土壤种子库有重要影响。连续多年的田间管理会使种子库的大小、分布和物种组成产生年际变化。目前,需要加强长期定位研究,扩大研究区域和研究内容,重点研究杂草种子的休眠萌发机制和种子命运研究,为杂草治理提供更准确的信息。     

Costs and benefits of capsaicin-mediated control of gut retention in dispersers of wild chilies

A fundamental way in which animal-dispersed plants can influence the viability and distribution of dispersed seeds is through control of retention time in the guts of dispersers. Using two species of wild chilies and their dispersers, we examined how chemical and physical properties of fruits and seeds mediate this interaction. Capsicum chacoense is polymorphic for pungency, occurs in Bolivia, and is dispersed mostly by elaenias. Capsicum annuum is not polymorphic, occurs in Arizona (USA), and is dispersed mostly by thrashers. We first tested whether capsaicin, the substance responsible for the pungency of chilies, affects gut retention time of seeds in primary dispersers. Capsaicin slowed gut passage of seeds but did so in a manner that differed greatly between bird species because the constipative effects of capsaicin occurred only after an 80-minute time lag. Elaenias in Bolivia held only 6% of C. chacoense seeds for > 80 minutes, whereas thrashers in Arizona held 78% of C. annuum seeds for > 80 minutes. Next we examined the effects of retention time on seed viability and germination. Increased retention resulted in a greater proportion of seeds germinating in C. annuum, had no effects on non-pungent C. chacoense, and had negative effects on pungent C. chacoense. These divergent effects are explained by differences in seed coat morphology: seed coats of pungent C. chacoense are 10-12% thinner than those of the other two types of seeds. Thus, longer retention times damaged seeds with the thinnest seed coats. In C. annuum, seed viability remained high regardless of retention time, but germination increased with retention, suggesting a role for scarification. Thus, in C. annuum, fruit chemistry appears well matched with seed morphology and disperser physiology: capsaicin extends gut retention for most seeds, resulting in greater seed scarification and higher germination rates. Increased retention of pungent C. chacoense seeds is detrimental, but because the primary consumers have short retention times, capsaicin slows only a small proportion of seeds, minimizing negative effects. These results illustrate the importance of context in studies of fruit secondary metabolites. The same chemical can have different impacts on plant fitness depending on its morphological, physiological, and ecological context.     

Impact of distillery effluent on germination behaviour of Brassica napus L

The study has been focused on effect of untreated distillery effluent (Devans Breweries Ltd., Jammu) on germination of gobi sarson (Brassica napus. L. var. Punjabi Special). Six treatments (E0.... E100) each having three replicates were made. E0 was taken as control in which tap water was used for irrigation of the plants. For E20, E40, E60, E80 and E100, different concentrations i.e. 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100% of effluent were used for irrigation, respectively. The 100% sample of distillery effluent analyzed for various physicochemical parameters showed acidic nature (pH 4.0) and higher values of COD (2496 mg l(-1)), TDS (799.7 mg l(-1)) and chlorides (1408 mg l(-1)). The parameters e.g. percent germination, germination index, speed of germination, and peak value were highest in treatment receiving 20% effluent concentration which also showed minimum values for percent inhibition, germination period, and delay index.     

入侵物种三裂叶蟛蜞菊挥发物的化感作用研究

对华南地区重要外来入侵物种三裂叶蟛蜞菊挥发物的化感作用进行了研究,以揭示该物种的入侵机制。采用水蒸气蒸馏法提取三裂叶蟛蜞菊地上部分的挥发油,提取率为2.58‰(质量比)。以稗草、三叶鬼针草和青葙3种杂草种子为供试对象,用种子萌发法测定了三裂叶蟛蜞菊挥发物的化感作用活性。结果表明:三裂叶蟛蜞菊的茎叶在密闭系统中产生的挥发性物质对稗草、三叶鬼针草和青葙的幼苗生长有显著抑制作用。稗草的根长、苗高和鲜质量分别比对照减少49.1%、35.0%和27.3%,三叶鬼针草的分别比对照减少18.8%、20.9%和28.6%,青葙的分别比对照减少62.9%、21.2%和50.0%。水蒸气蒸馏法所得的挥发油对稗草、三叶鬼针草和青葙的幼苗生长也有显著抑制作用,且抑制作用随着浓度的增大而增强。稗草的根长、苗高和鲜质量分别比对照减少88.2%、58.3%和45.5%,三叶鬼针草的根长、苗高和鲜质量分别比对照减少38.6%、34.5%和71.4%,青葙的根长、苗高和鲜质量分别比对照减少83.7%、51.5%和75.0%。结论:三裂叶蟛蜞挥发物具有化感作用,其作用机理值得深入研究。     

温度和盐分对两种盐爪爪属植物种子萌发的影响

通过研究温度和NaCl对两种藜科叶肉质化盐生植物——里海盐爪爪和盐爪爪种子萌发的影响,显示出里海盐爪爪的最适萌发温度范围为20~30℃,而盐爪爪适合在变温条件下萌发,两者对温度的反应有显著差异;两者的萌发率和萌发速率都随NaCl浓度升高而降低,里海盐爪爪比盐爪爪的耐盐能力低;高盐分条件能诱导两个种的休眠,而当盐浓度降低时两者都能很好地恢复萌发,且萌发速率加快。因此,尽管里海盐爪爪仅能在低于300mmol/L,盐爪爪在低于400mmol//LNaCl浓度下萌发,这种耐盐能力低于很多盐生植物,但根据两个种所表现的综合萌发特性,它们依然被认为属于具有较高耐盐能力的盐生植物类型.图3表1参24     

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.     

处理污水后陶粒作为栽培基质的试验

以秸秆-粉煤灰陶粒（比表面积为7．925m2·g-1）作为曝气生物滤池（BAF）载体填料,处理城市污水和餐饮废水,其COD、NH3-N和TP去除率分别为90．33％、77．44％、82．41％和86．50％、68．98％、80．30％。对处理污水后陶粒的农用资源化可行性进行评估,考察陶粒不同施用量对小白菜（Brassicachinensis）种子萌发、生长状况和产量的影响。结果表明,处理污水后陶粒的性能指标达到GB8172—87《城镇垃圾农用标准》;陶粒质量分数为20％时小白菜种子发芽率最高,且萌发较快,在5d时达到100％;随陶粒施用量增加,小白菜长势更好,产量大致呈增加趋势,陶粒质量分数为80％时增产率最高,为352．51％。但陶粒施用量越高,栽培基质抗干旱能力越差,陶粒质量分数为20％和40％处理具有较好的土壤保湿效果。     

非离子表面活性剂淋洗萘污染土壤的修复研究

采用土柱实验研究了非离子表面活性剂对焦化厂萘污染砂土的淋洗效果,同时研究了超声预处理对非离子表面活性剂土壤淋洗的增强效果及粉土和粘土对非离子表面活性剂土壤淋洗的不利影响.研究表明,1)1g·L-1的TritonX-100、AEO-9和Tween80对同一萘浓度(192.4mg·kg-1)的土壤洗脱效率分别为73.0%、81.5%和59.0%,2g·L-1的表面活性剂的洗脱效率要高于1g·L-1的洗脱率,分别为96.5%、95.1%和88.2%.2)对土壤进行短时超声处理(80Hz)促进了洗脱率的提高,超声10min的淋洗效果要高于超声5min的淋洗效果;土壤分别经5min和10min超声处理后,2g·L-1浓度的TritonX-100对萘的洗脱率从94%分别提高到98.8%和99.6%,洗脱时间从255min分别减少到172min和160min.3)砂土中含有粉土和粘土对洗脱效果有不利影响,且粘土的影响要更严重,当萘污染的砂土混入5%的粘土时,2g·L-1浓度的TritonX-100对萘的洗脱率从94.7%下降至73.8%,洗脱时间从255min增加至605min,而混入20%的粉土洗脱率仅下降到88.4%,洗脱时间增加至512min.     

Allelopathic effects of weeds extracts against seed germination of some plants

This study investigated the allelopathic effects of various weeds extracts on seed germination of 11 crop species. Most of the weed extracts tested had inhibitory effects on seed germination of common bean, tomato, pepper, squash, onion, barley, wheat, and corn at different application rates as compared with the 10% acetone control. Chickpea seed germination was inhibited by extracts of Solanum nigrum L., Chenopodium album L., and Matricaria chamomilla L. (10%, 20% and 22.5%, respectively) at the end of 21 day incubation period. However, Glycyrrhiza glabra L., Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers., and Reseda lutea L. extracts stimulated chickpea seed germination at the rates of 95%, 94%, and 93%, respectively, compared to control. It was concluded that some of the weed extracts tested in this study could be used as inhibitor while others could be used as stimulator for the crops.     

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.