Seed dormancy in bay laurel (Laurus nobilis L.)

The germination of bay laurel (Laurus nobilis L.) seeds wasexamined both in the laboratory and in the field during twoyears. Seeds were collected from a grove in a garden in the townof Drama, Northern Greece, by mid November in the first year andby late November in the second year. The seeds with and withoutpericarp were given a warm-moist (20 °C day/12 °C night) oncold-moist (4±1 °C) treatment in peat or sand. After treatment theseeds were placed in the germinator along with controls. Thegermination of seeds with and without pericarp was alsoinvestigated in the field (late fall sowing). It was found thatthe pericarp caused dormancy. In seeds without pericarp,cold-moist and warm-moist stratification both proved to besuccessful in breaking embryo dormancy (100% and 96% successrespectively). The required stratification duration was 50 daysfor the warm-moist and 60 days for the cold-moist treatments.During the cold-moist stratification no germination was observed.On the other hand, seeds started to germinate during thewarm-moist stratification by about the 50th day. In the fallsowing germination was 20% for seeds with pericarp and 41% for seeds without pericarp. Drying bay laurel seeds caused areduction of the seed germination.     

Germination of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Juniperus procera</Emphasis> seeds in response to stratification and smoke treatments,and detection of insect-damaged seeds with VIS + NIR spectroscopy

Seeds of Juniperus procera collected from five provenances across its geographic range in Ethiopia were subjected to cold-moist stratification at 5°C or 10°C for 6–12 weeks. The effect of aqueous smoke solution in overcoming the light requirement for germination, and the potential of visible (VIS) and near infrared reflectance (NIR) spectroscopy for sorting sound and insect-damaged seeds were also investigated. Highly significant differences in germination were detected among provenances (P < 0.0001) and stratification periods (P < 0.0001), but not between temperature regimes (P=0.111). Seeds from the south and southeast distribution ranges had higher percentage germination after 6 weeks of stratification than seeds collected from north, northwest and central ranges of distribution. The smoke treatment did not affect germination regardless of whether the seeds were exposed to light. Exposure to light increased germination capacity three fold. Sound and damaged seeds were distinguished with 90% accuracy using VIS + NIR spectroscopy. It can be concluded that dormancy in juniper seeds varies with provenances, and cold stratification for 6 weeks alleviates dormancy in some seed lots. Tentatively, smoke treatment seems ineffective in overcoming photo-dormancy in juniper seeds. VIS + NIR spectroscopy has demonstrated a great potential for sorting damaged seeds, thereby upgrading seed lot purity.     

油松种子最佳低温层积时间的探究

不同时间的低温层积对打破油松种子休眠、促进发芽的效果不同。通过发芽试验,结果表明,低温层积时间不足4周,种子的发芽率、发芽势、平均发芽速度均不及低温层积4周的,低温层积时间超过4周的种子,其发芽势、发芽率都会降低,4周是油松种子最适的低温层积时间。     

Roles of gibberellins and abscisic acid in dormancy and germination of red bayberry (Myrica rubra) seeds

Intact seeds from freshly harvested fruits of Myrica rubra (Sieb et Zucc.) were dormant and required 8 weeks of warm stratification followed by 12 weeks of cold stratification for germination. Exogenous application of gibberellic acid (GA(3)) to intact fresh seeds was effective in breaking dormancy, with > 70% of seeds germinating when treated with 5.2 mM GA(3) and incubated at a day/night temperature of 30/20 degrees C for 20 weeks. Removing the hard endocarp or endocarp plus seed coat of fresh seeds promoted germination, and addition of GA(3) to the embryo accelerated germination. The gibberellins GA(1) and GA(4) were more effective than GA(3) in promoting germination of seeds with the endocarp removed. Endogenous contents of GA(1), GA(3), GA(4), GA(7) and GA(20) were quantified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry-selected ion monitoring in the endocarps, seed coats and embryos of fresh seeds treated with 5.2 mM GA(3). The content of GA(3) decreased in the endocarp during incubation, whereas GA(1) contents increased in the endocarp and seed coat. A high GA(1) content was detected in the endocarps and embryos of newly germinated seeds. We speculate that GA(3) was converted to GA(1) during incubation and that GA(1) is involved in seed germination. Endogenous abscisic acid (ABA) contents were measured in fresh seeds and in warm and cold stratified seeds. The ABA content in fresh seeds was distributed in the order endocarp > seed coat > embryo, with the content in the endocarp being about 132-fold higher than in the seed coat and embryo. Total ABA content of seeds subjected to warm or cold stratification, or both, was 8.7- to 14.0-fold lower than that of fresh seeds. Low contents of endogenous GA(1), GA(3), GA(7) and GA(20), but elevated contents of GA(4), were found in the seed coats and endocarps of warm plus cold stratified seeds and in the seed coats and embryos of newly germinated seeds. These observations, coupled with the finding that GA stimulated germination of dormant Myrica seeds, provide evidence that endogenous ABA inhibited release of dormancy and that endogenous gibberellins, especially GA(4) or GA(1), or both, are involved in germination.     

Longevity of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Juniperus procera</Emphasis> seed lots under different storage conditions: implications for ex situ conservation in seed banks

Juniperus procera Endl. is economically important timber species, but its populations are extremely small and fragmented in its natural habitat, thus, calling for immediate ex situ conservation. Here we examined the effects of seed sources and storage temperature on the longevity of Juniperus procera seed lots through collection and preservation of seeds in seed banks. Seeds were collected from nine sites across the species natural distribution in Ethiopia and stored in four warehouses: modern cold room (5℃), mud house (15℃), concrete block house (17℃ or corrugated iron house (20℃) for 42 months. Every three months, a random sample of stored seeds were drawn and tested for germination. A highly significant variation (p < 0.01) in germination of stored seeds was observed among different storage environments, seed lots, and duration of storage. Over the storage period, seeds stored in the cold room had the highest mean percentage germination, followed by the mud house, corrugated house and blocket house. The cold room (41%) and the mud house (38%) maintained the same level of germination as the intitial germination of the seedlotds (42%). The variation in longevity of stored seeds was significnatly correlated with the initial germination of seed lots (r > 0.80; p < 0.01). Cold storage also resulted in enhancement of germination through its stratification effect that terminated the non-deepphysiological dormancy of juniper seeds. In conclusion, seed lots with good initial germination can be effectively stored in cold room (5℃) up to four years. In the absence of modern cold stores, mud houses can be used as a good alternative to store seeds at local level.     

Mechanical but not physical dormancy is a cause of poor germination in teak (Tectona grandis L.f.)

Poor seed germination is a significant problem for propagation of teak and it particularly hampers the deployment of genetically improved material into plantations. Seed dormancy is the putative cause for delayed and sporadic germination of teak seed but specific dormancy mechanisms have not been proven. In this paper we investigate whether physical or mechanical dormancy could affect teak germination. Physical dormancy was disproved when we observed water in every examined locule of fruit which had been immersed for 12–24 h (n = 1,700 fruits from six diverse sources). Mechanical dormancy was found to affect teak seed germination by means of valve structures which must open for the radicle to emerge. All 1,450 germinating seeds in 16 samples emerged from the endocarp via the detachment of a valve. Germination over 16 days was compared between extracted seeds (ex situ) and seeds within their endocarp (in situ) to determine the effect of mechanical dormancy on germination. Significantly greater germination of the ex situ seeds (62 ± 2% SE; n = 486) than of the in situ seeds (32 ± 2% SE; n = 564) indicated that mechanical dormancy is an important factor in the poor germination of teak.     

Effect of different pre-sowing seed treatments on the germination of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Leucaena leucocephala</Emphasis> (Lam.) and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Acacia farnesiana</Emphasis> (L.)

Leucaena leucocephala and Acacia farnesiana are tree species used for several agricultural purposes in the Mediterranean region. The seeds of these species exhibit dormancy, causing delayed germination. Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of pre-sowing treatments (scarification, hot water, or soaking) on seed germination of L. leucocephala and A. farnesiana. In one experiment, seeds were exposed to three pre-sowing treatments: control, sandpaper scarification, or soaking in 70°C water for 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, or 24 min. In another experiment, seeds were soaked in 70°C water for 20 min, and then soaked in water at room temperature for an additional 24, 48, or 72 h or blade scarified. In general, soaking the seeds of the two species in hot water was more effective in breaking seed dormancy than scarification. Sandpaper scarification was not effective for either species. Blade scarification increased A. farnesiana seed germination to 56%, indicating that seed dormancy was mainly a consequence of hardseededness. L. leucocephala seeds collected from Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST) site and soaked in 70°C water for 20 min and then soaked for 24, 48, or 72 h had germination rates above 97%. Our results suggest that blade scarification of A. farnesiana seeds and soaking of L. leucocephala seeds in 70°C water for 20 min are effective treatments to break seed dormancy and enhance seed germination of these vital species.     

大叶椴种子不同贮藏方式对发芽和出苗率的影响

在大叶椴种子贮藏时期进行打破休眠对发芽率和出苗率影响的试验表明:即先从大叶椴坚硬果实内取出休眠种子在浓硫酸中脱皮10 min后,再在无基质(3℃)条件下层积催芽140～168 d(直到第1粒种子开始发芽为止).结果表明:经过处理后的种子当发芽试验中昼夜温度为3～15℃(16 h+8 h)时,几周后种子的发芽率达90%;...     

油松种胚休眠特性及解除胚休眠的方法

对油松种子的离体胚进行培养试验.结果表明:油松种胚具有休眠特性,种子属于中度休眠特性的种子,且不同种粒之间休眠深浅有差异;赤霉素对解除油松种胚休眠也有一定作用,但效果不及低温层积处理,经过低温层积的种子没必要再用赤霉素来解除胚休眠.低温层积简便、成本低,是油松种子播前预处理的最好方法之一.     

Breaking seed dormancy in Cupressus atlantica Gaussen, an endemic and threatened coniferous tree in Morocco

Cupressus atlantica Gaussen (Cupressaceae) is an endemic and endangered coniferous tree geographically restricted to the N’Fis valley in South-Western Morocco. Like many forest species, C. atlantica exhibits dormancy which delays and reduces germination. To improveseed germination, different pre-treatments were conducted on C.atlantica seeds after storage for different periods (one, two and five years) including: scarification with sandy paper; soaking seeds in hot distilled water at 60℃and 80℃for 15 min and soaking seeds for 48 h in agibberellic acid (GA3) at 1,000 and 2,000 mg·L-1. Results showed that scarification with sandy paper increased the germination rate of Atlas cypress by up to 67%, indicating that the species possess essentially anexogenous dormancy (physical dormancy) due to the hard seed coat(hardseededness). Exogenous application of gibberellic acid (GA3) at1,000 mg·L-1 was also effective in breaking seed dormancy and germination induction. These two treatments induced faster speed germination expressed by low number of days to first germination (8 10days) and low values of mean germination times (MGT). However,germination rate, under any treatment, is greatly dependent on the year of seed collection. Seeds collected in year 2004 gave the highest value,suggesting that even after five years of storage, the germination capacity of C. atlantica seeds could remain high. This observation is very interesting in the exsitu conservation of such endemic and endangered species where the production of seeds is irregular over the years.     

八棱海棠种子解除休眠方法的研究

对八棱海棠种子分别进行赤霉素溶液浸泡处理、低温裸层积、低温层积以及赤霉素与低温层积结合等处理,而后进行发芽试验,统计分析发芽率、发芽势和发芽指数等指标.结果表明:赤霉素溶液浸泡不能完全打破种子休眠;低温层积是解除种子休眠的有效方法,层积80 d后,即可解除种子休眠;赤霉素溶液浸泡后,再低温层积可显著缩短层积时间.     

4种槭树种子的休眠原因及催芽方法试验

乡土树种鸡爪槭、色木槭、元宝枫和美国红枫等4个树种的种子都具有显著的休眠特性。采用人工介入手段进行休眠原因和催芽技术试验研究,结果表明:这4种槭树种子的种皮含有的化学物质和机械性阻碍导致了槭树种子的休眠;采用层积处理和GA3赤霉素浸种,能明显缩短种子的休眠期;彻底解除供试种子的休眠方法就是延长浸种沙藏层积的时间。措施,对保证育苗生产,提高出苗率和出苗整齐度有一定的研究价值。文章从层积处理和赤霉素处理入手,研究不同条件下催芽处理的效果,以此解释休眠的原因。     

东北地区刺楸种子解除休眠及催芽育苗的研究

通过不同试验材料、GA3应用和变温层积催芽对比试验,对刺楸种子解除休眠进行研究的结果表明:鲜种+GA3+(15℃,30 d;冷冻,90 d;-4~0℃,90 d)处理方法发芽率达到90.2%,出苗率达到81.5%;气干种温水(72 h)+GA3+(13~18℃,90 d;0~4℃,90 d)处理方法发芽率达到76.3%,出苗率达到66.4%。采用鲜种进行变温催芽处理对刺楸种子发芽率、出苗率和1年生苗木质量提高具有显著作用(p<0.01和p<0.05)。研究表明,刺楸种子属于形态-生理休眠类型,采用鲜种+GA3+变温层积催芽的综合处理方法能有效解除刺楸种子休眠。     

Enhancement of seed germination in Macaranga peltata for use in tropical forest restoration

We used pre-sowing treatments v/z., soaking seeds in concen- trated sulphudc acid （CSA）, gibberellic acid （GA）, combined treatment of CSA ＋ GA and mechanical scarification to overcome seed dormancy and enhance synchronous germination of Macaranga peltata seeds. We analysed percent seed germination data by logistic regression and con- finned that except in GA treatment, time and acid concentration together were crucial for enhancing germination. The combination treatment of CSA and GA resulted in higher percent germination （up to 74%） than either treatment used separately, but produced defective seedlings （26%）. Mechanical scarification of seed coat had the greatest impact in enhanc- ing germination （78%） and reducing imbibition time （6 days） against the control （0%）. Germination studies and SEM analysis confirmed that seed germination in M. peltata was inhibited by seed coat dormancy.     

Effects of presowing treatments, desiccation and storage conditions on germination of Strychnos nux-vomica seeds, a valuable medicinal plant

Seeds of Strychnos nux-vomica have slow and erratic germination; thus different presowing treatments were applied to enhance the germination of its seeds collected from Tamaraikulam, Tamil Nadu, India. In addition, the effects of desiccation and different storage conditions on the germination of S. nux-vomica seeds were investigated. The results show that soaking in 500 ppm gibberellic acid (GA₃) for 24 h, incubation of seeds at 40 °C for 3 days and alternate water soaking (16 h) and drying (8 h) for 14 days significantly increased the percentage germination compared to the control. Desiccation of seeds down to 10% moisture content resulted in better germination. Germination of S. nux-vomica seeds differed significantly between different storage periods, moisture contents of the seed and for first and second order interactions (p<0.001). The highest germination (92%) was achieved when seeds with 10% moisture content were stored at ambient temperature for 30 weeks. Evidence from the present study indicates that S. nux-vomica seeds possess physiological dormancy that can be broken effectively by after-ripening. As seeds of S. nux-vomica are found to be desiccation tolerant, dry seed (10% moisture content) can be hermitically stored at ambient temperature for 30 weeks without losing their viability.     

Petroleum flotation technique upgrades the germinability of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Casuarina equisetifolia</Emphasis> seed lots

The germination of Casuarina equisetifolia Forst seed lots is low (40–50%) even when freshly collected. This study aimed at upgrading the germination performance by removing non-germinable seeds using petroleum flotation technique. Seeds collected from 19 individual trees in seedling seed orchards in India were assessed using X-ray to determine the proportion of different seed lot fractions. The feasibility of petroleum ether as a separation medium was tested. Morphological characters of floating and sunken seeds were further studied using image analysis technique to examine their effects on the separation efficiency. The X-ray analysis revealed a large quantity of shrivelled, empty and insect-damaged seeds, altogether accounting 50%, which were the causes of low percentage germination of un-graded seed lots (48%). Petroleum flotation resulted in 90% germination in the sunken fraction and 4% in the floating fraction. The separation was distinct for most seed lots, except few seed lots that had relatively low germination in the sunken fractions and more than 10% germination in the floating fractions. As a whole, petroleum flotation appears to be a feasible technique to upgrade the germination of C. equisetifolia seed lots, and its efficacy is influenced by wing surface area, seed density and wing quotient of filled and empty seeds.     

Breaking Seed Dormancy of Laurel (Laurus nobilis L.)

Laurel (Laurus nobilis L.) seeds were collected from the west part of Turkey in the fall of 2002. Seeds with pericarp (+) or without pericarp (−) were treated with 1000 mg/l, 2000 mg/l and 3000 mg/l GA₃ concentrations, cold stratified at +4 ± 1°C for 25 and 50 days, punctured and seed coat removed to overcome and assess the mechanism of laurel seed dormancy. A period of 50 days cold stratification and removing seed coat significantly increased germination rate to 55% ± 1.91 (Mean ± SE) and 85% ± 3.00, respectively. None of the seeds with pericarp germinated regardless of treatment they underwent. Results suggested that seed dormancy was mainly due to pericarp and perhaps inhibitors linked to seed coat.     

不同处理方式对黑莓‘Kiowa’种子发芽的影响

研究了7种不同化学药剂结合不同时间的低温层积处理后黑莓‘Kiowa’品种种子的萌发特性,探索打破种子休眠的有效方法。结果表明,对种皮具有软化或腐蚀作用的NaClO、浓H2SO4和H2O2对黑莓种子发芽具有明显的促进效应,而GA3、PEG6000、KNO3、NaOH促进效果不明显,表明种皮障碍是影响其萌发的主要因素,而且以20%NaClO的处理发芽率最高。低温层积时间越长越好,以90～120天为宜。以NaClO处理并低温沙藏90天的种子发芽试验表明,不同浓度NaClO处理的种子发芽率在萌发过程中均呈现先急剧增加再缓慢增加直至恒定的趋势,其中以培养20天时达到高峰期。     

Optimal and synchronized germination of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Robinia pseudoacacia</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Acacia dealbata</Emphasis> and other woody Fabaceae using a handheld rotary tool: concomitant reduction of physical and physiological seed dormancy

The Fabaceae (legume family) is one of the largest families of plants with a worldwide distribution and a major role in agriculture and in agroforestry. A hard seed coat impermeable to water is a typical feature of several species. Physical dormancy delays and reduces germination so that mechanical, physical and chemical scarification methods have been classically used to break seed dormancy of many species. We evaluate the effectiveness of a methodology to scarify seeds of several woody Fabaceae of ecological and economical importance, including Robinia pseudoacacia and Acacia dealbata and the shrubs Cytisus scoparius, C. multiflorus and Ulex europaeus. We describe the optimized use of a handheld rotary tool (HRT), and compare its effectiveness with other scarification methods reported to break dormancy such as boiling or dry heating. Total germination and/or speed of germination were enhanced after the application of the HRT, with germination percentages significantly higher than those achieved by other methods of scarification. Based on a thorough literature review, a mode of action for the HRT is suggested which could operate by breaking the physical and physiological dormancy of treated seeds through the combined action of coat abrasion and moderate temperatures. Considering these results, we recommend the application of this rapid, effective, low-cost and highly reproducible HRT method to break seed dormancy and enhance germination of these species and others with similar dormancy constraints.     

五叶地锦种实性状的观察与测定

以不同年份采集的五叶地锦果实和种子为材料,对其有关性状进行观察与测定,结果表明:2005～2008年采集的种子千粒重依次分别为:25.4g、26.1g、25.7g、28.0g,均值为26.3g,差异不显著,这与长期无性繁殖密切相关.果实中含种子1～4粒不等,以1～3粒者居多.种子横切面呈圆形、半圆形、伞形和三角形,并具...