Seedling emergence, growth, and allocation of Oriental bittersweet: effects of seed input, seed bank, and forest floor litter

The establishment of invasive plant populations is controlled by seed input, survival in the soil seed bank, and effects of soil surface disturbance on emergence, growth, and survival. We studied the invasive vine Celastrus orbiculatus Thunb. (Oriental bittersweet) to determine if seedlings in forest understory germinate from the seed bank or from seed rain. We also conducted a greenhouse experiment to investigate the role of leaf litter mass and physical texture on seedling survival, growth, and allocation. In the understory of an invaded mixed hardwood forest, we measured seed input, seedling emergence with seed rain, and seedling emergence without seed rain. Mean seed rain was 168 seeds m⁻²: mean seedling emergence was 107 m⁻², and there was a strong correlation between seed rain and seedling emergence. The ratio of seedlings to seed input (0.61) was close to the seed viability (0.66) leaving very few seeds to enter the seed bank. Seed bank germination under field conditions was low (1 seedling m⁻²). Soil cores were incubated in a greenhouse to determine seed bank viability, and germination from these soil cores did not occur. To determine how litter affects seedling establishment and growth, we measured seedling emergence and biomass allocation in a greenhouse experiment. Seeds were placed below intact and fragmented deciduous leaf litter in amounts ranging from zero to the equivalent of 16 Mg ha⁻¹. Seedling emergence was not affected by fragmented litter, but decreased to <20% as intact litter increased to 16 Mg ha⁻¹. Increasing litter resulted in greater allocation to hypocotyl and less to cotyledon and radicle, and this effect was greater in intact litter. C. orbiculatus seedlings achieve emergence through forest floor litter through plasticity in allocation to hypocotyl growth. The low survival of C. orbiculatus in the seed bank suggests that eradication of seedling advance regeneration and adult plants prior to seed rain may be an effective control strategy. However, the intact forest floor litter of an undisturbed forest will not prevent seedling establishment.     

Seed mass effects on performance of Pinus halepensis Mill. seedlings sown after fire

Pinus halepensis is a widely distributed species in the Mediterranean basin. It is generally well adapted to regenerate after wildfire, except when fire intervals are too short (≤15 years). In these latter situations, direct seeding could be a good alternative for restoring pine woodland after fire. Under dry climate, low seedling growth and survival can greatly limit the use of seeding. Early studies have shown that seedlings grown from large seeds have higher seedling establishment, growth and survival. Seed size grading may however reduce the genetic diversity of a seed lot by eliminating part or all of the families with relatively small seeds. An alternative to improve seed lot quality without losing genetic variability could be collecting and sieving seeds from each family separately. In order to explore the influence of seed mass on P. halepensis seedling performance, seeds from five half-sib families differing in mean seed mass were sown under greenhouse and field conditions. Final seedling emergence was unrelated to seed mass and half-sib family. The time of emergence was also unrelated to seed mass but it varied among families. Seed mass showed a positive effect on seedling height and diameter, both at population level and within family throughout the study period (9 months under greenhouse conditions and 20 months under field conditions). We also observed a negative relationship between seed mass and relative growth rate for seedling diameter, but it was not high enough to fully compensate the initial differences due to seed mass at the end of the 20-month study period. Seedling predation had a considerable impact on seedling survival, and it was not related to seed mass. When seedlings killed by predation were excluded from the survival analysis, larger seedlings, coming from larger seeds, showed slightly better survival, but only during the first growing period. The small advantages obtained from large seed mass in seedling development do not seem to justify the increased operational costs derived from seed mass selection for each family.     

种子大小和枯落物覆盖对黑松种子萌发和幼苗生长的影响

2017年5月10日,将烟台沿海防护林内20～30年生黑松Pinus thunbergii母树的种子分为大粒、中粒和小粒播于花盆中,研究枯落物覆盖厚度(1 cm,2 cm,3 cm,4 cm)对种子萌发和幼苗生长的影响,以阐明沿海黑松防护林幼苗建立的机制。结果表明:种子大小对发芽率、发芽指数有着极显著影响(P<0.01),对平均发芽时间、活力指数没有显著影响。大粒种子比中小粒种子有着低的发芽率和发芽指数。在生物量分配和根系特征上种子大小没有显著影响,但对幼苗高度和地径有显著的影响(P<0.05),都是大粒和中粒种子大于小粒种子。枯落物覆盖厚度对于种子萌发有显著影响(P<0.05),发芽率、发芽指数、活力指数都随枯落物厚度的增加而增加,平均发芽时间则逐渐降低;但对幼苗生物量、生物量分配和根系特征无显著影响。相关分析表明,苗高和地径与发芽指标、幼苗生物量分配相关性不显著,但与比根长和比根表面积成显著正相关。因此,种子大小和枯落物覆盖厚度是影响沿海黑松防护林天然更新的重要因素。     

秦岭冷杉幼苗适应性的研究

通过对秦岭冷杉不同海拔、光照、苗床类型、覆土深度等条件下的野外播种试验,分析了不同条件下种子萌发、幼苗存活和幼苗生长率的差异,揭示了秦岭冷杉种子及幼苗在天然环境下的适应性.天然生境下秦岭冷杉的平均出苗率只有17.7％,不及实验室发芽率(36％)的一半.海拔、光照、苗床类型、埋藏深度对秦岭冷杉的种子萌发、幼苗存活和幼苗生长率都有不同程度的影响.生产上秦岭冷杉的复壮一定要遵循适地适树的原则.     

飞机草水提液对任豆种子萌发和幼苗生长的影响

以任豆为受体植物,研究了飞机草根、茎和叶的水提液对任豆种子萌发和幼苗生长的化感效应。结果表明,不同浓度水提液对任豆的化感作用强度不同,在100%高浓度下才能明显延缓任豆种子发芽速率和显著抑制幼苗根的生长;在不同部位水提液中,叶水提液的化感作用最强,且表现出低促高抑的现象;而各部位、各浓度的飞机草水提液对任豆的发芽率、苗高和干重等重要指标均无显著抑制作用,表明任豆对飞机草的化感作用具有较强抵抗力。     

Effect of Gap Size on Seedling Establishment of Tsuga longibracteata

Effects of three gaps which are large （118 m^2）, medium （86 m^2） and small （20 m^2）, respectively, and under canopy of Tsuga longibracteata forest on the seedling establishment of T. longibracteata were studied through seed burial experiments from December 2003 to January 2005 in Tianbaoyan National Nature Reserve of Fujian, China. The results showed that the area of gap had an evident effect on the seedling establishment of T. longibracteata. The seedling emergence rates of T. longibracteata in plots of large gap, medium gap, small gap and under canopy were 10%, 10%, 4% and 6%, representing an increasing trend along with the gap size increasing without a significant difference. Rain eroding and insects feeding were two main factors leading to seedling death. The larger the gap size was, the more seedlings were killed by rain erosion and the fewer seedlings were killed by insects feeding. The emergence time of seedlings was almost same in all plots while their death time was different respectively. The gap size had a significant impact on seedling survival rate. The seedling survival rate was highest in the medium gap plot （27.0%） and next to the highest in large gap plot （7.3%）, and seedling in small gap plot and under canopy plot died out after one growing season. Increased light supply in gaps was favorable for the seedlings growth and survival. Increased light supply in the large gap could enhance the growth of seedling leaf and root of T. longibracteata, and the seedling in turn allocated more dry mass to root and leaf, but it has little impact on the growth of stem. This research indicates that T. longibracteata is a pioneer species and its seedling establishment need a medium or large gap （〉50 m^2）.     

广西桂北不同地区毛竹种子育苗试验

采集广西桂林北部3个县9个地区的毛竹种子开展育苗试验,分析不同地区毛竹种子的出苗率及苗木生长状况。结果表明：9个地区的毛竹种子发芽率存在极显著差异,其中灌阳4区毛竹种子发芽率最高,灌阳3区毛竹种子发芽率最低;3个县之间的毛竹种子发芽率差异不显著;毛竹种子实生苗地径、苗高及平均根数在9个地区之间存在极显著差异,而根径则无显著差异;3个县之间比较,恭城县毛竹种子实生苗的平均地径最大,而灵川2区的平均苗高最大。利用种子实生苗生长指标进行聚类分析,可将9个地区初步划分为3个种源区。     

云杉幼树根系分泌物对2种草本植物种子萌发和幼苗生长的影响

【目的】探究西南亚高山人工针叶林主要造林树种粗枝云杉根系分泌物输入对林下草本植物种子萌发和幼苗生长的影响,揭示根系分泌物对林下植被更新和群落多样性的潜在生态效应。【方法】通过前期在野外原位收集根系分泌物,后期在实验室人工添加的方式,从种子萌发、幼苗生物量、幼苗形态3个方面来探究根系分泌物对西南亚高山人工云杉林生境内的2种草本植物白车轴草[JP2]和紫花苜蓿的影响。【结果】1)在种子萌发方面,根系分泌物添加降低了2种草本植物的种子发芽率、发芽势和发芽指数,且紫花苜蓿种子在处理间差异显著。2)在幼苗生物量方面,2种草本植物幼苗鲜质量、干质量在根系分泌物处理下均呈下降趋势,而且紫花苜蓿幼苗处理间差异显著。3)在幼苗形态特征方面,根系分泌物添加降低了2种草本植物的总长度、总表面积、总体积,且幼苗总长度处理间存在显著差异。4)根系分泌物处理下,2种草本植物的各项化感效应指数(RI值)均小于0,而且根系分泌物处理造成的2种植物化感效应综合指数(SE值)小于0,表明根系分泌物添加对2种草本植物种子萌发和幼苗生长均具有抑制作用,且对紫花苜蓿种子的抑制作用更强。5)UPLC-MS分析表明,云杉幼树根系分泌物中检测出多种酚酸类物质。【结论】云杉幼树根系分泌物输入对林下草本植物种子萌发及幼苗生长均产生了抑制效应。根系分泌物中的酚酸类物质可能是导致根系分泌物处理下草本植物种子萌发和幼苗生长受到抑制的内在驱动机制。     

Seedling growth and establishment in natural stands of yellow-cedar (Chamaecyparis nootkatensis) seedlings derived from the use of modified seed dormancy-breaking treatments

Following dispersal from the parent tree, seeds of yellow-cedar (Chamaecyparis nootkatensis[D. Don] Spach) exhibit low germination, primarily as a result of coat-imposed dormancy. Dormancy of the mature (intact) seed is effectively terminated by traditional warm/cold treatments. A chemical treatment using the anaesthetic 1-propanol combined with a three day warm water soak (30 °C), a two day GA₃ treatment and 60 d of moist chilling not only promotes high germinability of yellow-cedar seeds, but also elicits vigorous post-germinative growth following seedling emergence under nursery greenhouse conditions. Here we compare the effectiveness of the more traditional warm/cold treatments with the chemical treatment in terms of their capacity to elicit vigorous growth and establishment in natural stands following transplant of seedlings from a nursery greenhouse environment. Two seed lots (42313 and 43697) and open-pollinated seed from parent trees 13-6 and 19-8 showed equivalent seedling growth in natural stands following the chemical treatment and two traditional warm/cold treatments typically used for dormancy breakage by the forest industry and by the Ministry of Forests in British Columbia. The chemical protocol offers the advantage of reducing the time required to break seed dormancy. We have now demonstrated that it yields seedlings that exhibit vigorous growth and are capable of withstanding the vagaries of the environment.     

南方红豆杉苗木性状种源分化和育苗环境对苗木生长的影响

利用来自10个省区27个产地的南方红豆杉种子在福建明溪和浙江淳安2个地点开展种源苗期遗传测定,系统研究苗木生长、苗高生长参数、根系特征和干物质积累等性状的种源差异及育苗环境对种源苗木生长的影响.研究结果显示:南方红豆杉苗高、地径和侧枝数存在显著的种源差异.基于苗高生长参数分析表明:种源苗高的增加主要是由于线性生长量、最高生长速率和线性生长速率的提高,而不是由于线性生长期的延长.相对于其它树种,南方红豆杉线性生长速率虽较小,但线性生长期较长.试验虽然未发现根系形态、干物质积累量的种源差异达到统计学上的显著水平,但这些性状的种源绝对值却相差较大,达20%以上.育苗环境对南方红豆杉种源生长影响较大,良好的水热资源和庇荫条件将显著促进苗木的高、径生长.苗木生长性状存在显著的种源与地点互作,但种源与遮阳处理的互作却很小.不同育苗地点南方红豆杉苗高和地径呈现出的地理变异模式是不同的:在福建明溪点,种源苗木高、径生长与产地的地理气候因子相关性较小,苗期速生种源不仅有来自自然分布区偏东部和偏北部的种源,而且还有来自偏南部和偏西部的种源;在浙江淳安点,来自偏东部和偏北部的种源苗高生长量较大,而来自偏南部和偏西部的种源生长则较慢,类似于作者对南方红豆杉有限分布区种源试验的已有研究结果.     

吲哚丁酸对一串红种子萌发及幼苗生长的影响

不同浓度吲哚丁酸(IBA)对一串红种子萌发及幼苗生长影响的研究结果表明:10-6 mg/L的IBA可以增加一串红种子的发芽率、侧根数、叶绿素含量和根系活力。     

沙床育苗技术对杉木苗木生长影响的研究

对采用沙床育苗法培育的杉木轻基质容器苗的生长量、生物量、根系形态和出圃率等进行对比研究的结果表明:轻基质容器苗地径、侧根数、高径比在贝江河林场、西山林场和咸水林场等3个种子园的良种苗间均存在极显著差异。轻基质容器苗的苗高、地径、侧根数、地下鲜重、根冠比和出圃率分别为37.3 cm、5.5 mm、13.5条、5.1 g、0.29和94.5%,表明轻基质容器苗根系发达,出圃率高,对提高造林成活率和良种利用率具有重要意义。沙床培育轻基质容器苗技术利于培育出高质量和高出圃率的良种壮苗,宜在苗木培育与生产中大力推广。     

Consequences of dry-season seed dispersal on seedling establishment of dry forest trees: Should we store seeds until the rains?

We examined the following hypotheses: (i) seeds of dry forest trees have high pre- and post-germination mortality by desiccation due to the time between seed dispersal and germination and to irregular rains at the onset of the rainy season; (ii) seedlings from seeds dispersed in the dry season which survive the dry spells are larger at the end of the first rainy season than those dispersed in the rainy season because the former have more time to grow. We evaluated the possible trade-off between few large seedlings (resulting from natural dispersal) × many small seedlings (resulting from delayed dispersal) on seedling survival during the dry season. We sowed eight tree species in a greenhouse in September, simulating the natural dispersal timing (before the rains), and in November, when rains are more constant. Because shading can counteract the effects of desiccation, we applied three levels of shade (10%, 40% and 72% of PPFD). From September 2005 to December 2006, we provided the daily precipitation of a median year from a major patch of dry forest in Central Brazil. At the end of the rainy season, a subset of seedlings was collected for growth measurements (dry mass) and the remainder was left to follow the dry season survivorship. The lower germination expected for seeds dispersed in the dry season and in full sun was not confirmed for species that had some dormancy. The delayed dispersal was advantageous for the initial establishment of fast germinating species, but it was irrelevant or even disadvantageous for others. Also, the greenhouse weather was certainly milder than the natural environment, reducing the potential for mortality by desiccation. The growth of the four species of higher dormancy were not affected by timing of seed dispersal, while three out of four fast germinating species had higher root biomass when dispersed in the dry season. The growth during the rainy season did not affect seedling survival during the dry season. Keeping seeds to sow when rain is constant might be a good strategy to increase the establishment of fast-germinating tree species.     

云南蓝果树对种子萌发及幼苗生长的自毒效应

云南蓝果树为中国特有极度濒危一级保护植物,为探讨云南蓝果树濒危机理并进行有效保护,通过野外原位实验和室内受控实验相结合的方法,研究云南蓝果树对种子萌发及幼苗生长是否有自毒效应。结果表明:野外条件下,云南蓝果树的种子萌发受野外枯枝落叶和自身种皮的显著抑制;室内受控实验发现,云南蓝果树的根、茎、叶和种皮浸提液对种子萌发都有不同程度的显著抑制作用,其中,根的抑制作用最强(80.90%),种皮的抑制作用最弱(13.59%),而且云南蓝果树的根、茎、叶浸提液和根际土壤对幼苗生长(株高、叶片数和生物量)也表现出显著的抑制作用。     

容器育苗技术在林业育苗中的应用价值

【目的】探讨容器育苗技术在甘肃省天水市武山县滩歌林场林业育苗中的应用价值。【方法】选取2018年8月甘肃省天水市武山县滩歌林场的紫斑牡丹种子,种子重319.16 g·cm^-3,实验于2018年8月开始。为了更好的对比目前容器育苗技术的先进性,本次研究选取了传统林木穴盘(A)、平衡根系轻基质无纺布容器(B)、新型林木穴盘(C)。三种穴盘规格分别为:45 cm×55 cm×10 cm、45 cm×55 cm×8 cm、45 cm×55 cm×11 cm、21.5 cm×35.5 cm×11 cm。基质为珍珠岩、进口草炭。【结果】不同穴盘容器对紫斑牡丹种子生根的影响来看,B容器、C穴盘的生根时间、生根率、根长>5 cm比例、种子腐烂率均优于A穴盘的生根时间、生根率、根长>5 cm比例、种子腐烂率,而C穴盘的相关指标显著优于其它两种育苗容器,组间比较存在显著差异(P<0.05),统计学有意义。30天低温处理时:A穴盘与B容器相比萌发率无明显差异(P>0.05),两种容器与C穴盘相比,存在显著差异(P<0.05),统计学有意义。40天低温处理时:A穴盘与C穴盘相比萌发率无明显差异(P>0.05),两种容器与B容器相比,存在显著差异(P<0.05),统计学有意义。50天低温处理时:A穴盘与C穴盘相比萌发率无明显差异(P>0.05),两种容器与B容器相比,存在显著差异(P<0.05),统计学有意义,而50天的B容器与40天的B容器相比萌发率无明显差异(P>0.05),故B容器40天低温处理是紫斑牡丹种子的最佳条件。【结论】通过实验得到平衡根系轻基质无纺布容器、新型林木穴盘是林业育苗中最佳的容器育苗技术,并且平衡根系轻基质无纺布容器的侧根萌发率高于新型林木穴盘技术,因此,最终明确平衡根系轻基质无纺布容器适用于在甘肃省天水市武山县滩歌林场林业育苗中的应用价值较高,值得广泛推广。     

引进欧洲垂枝桦不同种源苗期选择研究

以引进欧洲垂枝桦不同种源为对象,并以本地白桦种源作为对照,研究引进欧洲垂枝桦不同种源的种子形态特征、发芽特性和在黑河地区的苗期生长表现。结果表明:引进欧洲垂枝桦不同种源在种子长度、种子宽度、种翅长度、种翅宽度、千粒重、发芽率、发芽势、发芽指数、活力指数、苗高、地径、地上生物量、地下生物量和全株生物量存在显著差异,而且引进欧洲垂枝桦不同种源这些指标都显著高于本地白桦对照种源,综合分析表明,引进欧洲垂枝桦新西伯利亚种源在种子形态特征、发芽特性和在黑河地区的苗期生长表现均优,可作为黑河地区欧洲垂枝桦育苗的首选种源。     

林地土壤及其真菌对毛红椿种子发芽及幼苗保存的影响

[目的]通过不同群落毛红椿天然林林地土壤及其真菌对种子萌发和幼苗存活影响的研究,探讨影响毛红椿天然更新的障碍因素。[方法]在江西九连山国家级自然保护区内的3个毛红椿天然优势群落中,分别取距离毛红椿母树3个不同距离(2.5、5.0、7.5 m)处的根区土壤和远离毛红椿母树(25 m以外)的非根区土壤,以非林地土为对照开展室内模拟播种和以根区土壤真菌的水或根系分泌物悬液对毛红椿幼苗进行灌根接种,观察种子萌发、幼苗存活和幼苗感病情况。[结果]各群落土壤中种子发芽均呈先上升后下降规律,且基本在第8 10天达到高峰;林地土与非林地土种子发芽率差异不显著,但林地根区土幼苗的存活率极显著低于非林地土和林地非根区土;距母树3个不同距离根区土的幼苗存活率差异不显著。灌根接种不同处理间幼苗存活率差异极显著,具体表现为接种RS2、RS5根区真菌的幼苗感病率显著高于根系分泌物及无菌水空白对照,且RS2真菌的根系分泌物悬浮液幼苗感病率显著高于其无菌水悬浮液。[结论]毛红椿种子萌发不受土壤环境的影响,但幼苗建成受根区范围内土壤的影响,根系分泌物和致病菌的互作显著降低幼苗保存率。由此推断,毛红椿根区土壤内存在幼苗的潜在致病菌及根系分泌物可增强其致病性。     

Acclimation abilities of three tropical rainforest seedlings to an increase in light intensity

Current practices in many nurseries involve the germination of tropical rainforest seedlings in shaded conditions and transferral, at a later date, to environments with greater light intensities. Determination of the ability of these seedlings to acclimate to increased light intensities will allow seedling stock to be processed with maximum efficiency within the nursery. The acclimation abilities of three species, Agyrodendron actinophyllum, Cardwellia sublimis, and Flindersia brayleyana, commonly found in north Queensland's rainforests were investigated in this study. These particular species are highly valued for their cabinet timber qualities and are being reared in nurseries for use in reforestation trials and programs in north Queensland. Seedlings were initially raised in greenhouse conditions under two layers of shade cloth (16% of full sunlight) and then transferred into full sunlight at three different ages (3 weeks, 10 weeks, 14 weeks). Upon transfer, organ ratios and the direction of dry matter distribution was determined for each species and age group. Approximately 3 months after the seedlings were transferred, the acclimation ability of each species and age group was then determined. Dry matter distribution was found to change with age, irrespective of light environment. Individuals within a species with larger root systems and thicker or more dense leaves had a greater acclimation ability than those with smaller root systems and thinner or less dense leaves. Furthermore, individuals within a species whose dry matter distribution upon transfer was directed towards developing a large root system, and a small photosynthetic area and mass, had a greater acclimation ability than those whose dry matter distribution was directed away from such morphologies. Awareness of these relationships allows a better understanding of seedling response to gap formation in natural forests, and also allows plant nursery operators to make a more informed decision about when to move seedlings to environments with a higher light intensity.     

Effect of electrostatic field on seed germination and seedling growth of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sorbus pohuashanesis</Emphasis>

A study was conducted to determine the effects of electrostatic field (ESF) treatment on seed germination and seedling growth of Sorbus pohuashanesis. The experiments were arranged by uniform design computed by the Data Processing System (DPS), including three levels of seeds soaking time, four levels of ESF intensity and four levels of ESF treatment time, with 12 treatments. Ten seeds were used in each treatment with three replicates. Seed vigor, seed germinating ability, emergence rate of seedling, survival rate of seedling, and seedling height and diameter, as well as the change in activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), soluble protein contents, total chlorophyll contents, soluble total sugar contents in leaves of S. pohuashanensis seedlings were measured after ESF treatments. The experiment results show that ESF treatment could improve the water absorption ability of dry seeds of S. pohuashanensis, resulting in fast germination at room temperature under light conditions. Combined treatment of ESF with cold stratification could increase seed germination percentage significantly (to 42.20%), promote seedling height growth, affect leaf SOD activity, and could raise contents of total chlorophyll, soluble protein, and total soluble sugar in leaves. Seed soaking time had a significant effect on seed relative electroconductivity, seed germination under light, SOD activity, soluble protein content and total soluble sugar content of seedling leaves. ESF intensity exerted a moderate effect on these indexes. ESF treatment time only had significant effect on total chlorophyll contents, no evident effect on other indexes.     

Provenance Variation in Seed Morphometric Traits, Germination, and Seedling Growth of Cordia africana Lam

Patterns of genetic variation in Cordia africana, a tropical timber species, were evaluated at the population level. Bulk seed samples were collected from six natural populations in Ethiopia and examined for variations in seed morphometric traits, seed germination, and seedling growth at nursery stage. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences among provenances in all studied attributes except root collar diameter after 4 months of growth. The provenance effect, as determined by broad sense heritability, was 71–98% for seed morphometric traits, 80% for germination capacity, 42% for germination energy, 57–58% for seedling height and 3–13% for root collar diameter. Seed weight showed a significant positive correlation with altitude and negative correlation with mean annual temperature of seed origin. Germination energy was significantly correlated with longitude and mean annual rainfall. Seedling parameters and geo-climatic variables of seed origin were fairly correlated. A significant intercharacter correlation was found between seed length and seed weight, between root collar diameter at the age of 4 months and seed length and weight, as well as between seedling height after 4 and 8 months of growth. It can be concluded that the observed patterns of variation will have implications for genetic resources conservation and tree improvement.