Environmental maternal effects on seed morphology and germination in Sinapis arvensis (Cruciferae)

Pioneer plants are adapted to grow in unpredictable environments. These plants have evolved several traits related to seed morphology and germination to cope with this unpredictability. The main aim of this study was to investigate the effect of plant identity and maternal environment on seed mass and germination of Sinapis arvensis. This study was undertaken with S. arvensis plants grown in four experimentally manipulated resource availability scenarios: (i) nitrogen addition, (ii) water addition, (iii) nitrogen and water simultaneously added, and (iv) control. Plants grew under field conditions in an emerging plant community. Germination response was mainly affected by maternal plant identity. This reflects not only genotype quality but also phenotypic plasticity, which allows adaptation to habitat conditions. Seed coat colour together with mean seed mass per plant explained significant fractions of the variability in germination rate. Changes in the germination response because of maternal environmental effects were also detected. Germination rate decreased in seeds from nitrogen‐enriched conditions; this may be due to the induction of dormancy caused by high concentration of nitrogen in the seeds. Addition of water to maternal environment caused a decrease in total germination percentage and germination rate of seeds. Thus, our results provide evidence for maternal environmental effects on germination under field conditions. Furthermore, changes in germination timing, as detected in our study, may determine plant development and fitness in unpredictable conditions.     

种子传播提高生物多样性的机制

种子是保存物种遗传信息的载体,保护种子资源是植物保护和生物多样性保护的重要内容。种子传播不仅对保护植物自身的繁殖和生存至关重要,而且对群落稳定甚至生态系统功能具有重要意义。该文综述了种子传播的方式、干扰因素以及种子传播通过提高生物多样性来促进植物保护的机制,即丰富的生物多样性降低了病虫害对植物的危害。种子传播易受人为活动和气候变化等因素干扰传播媒介和破坏生境;需要采取构建廊道等措施来降低因生境破碎化引起的负面影响。种子传播提高生物多样性的机制主要通过增加基因交流来提高遗传多样性,通过增加种子扩散效率和存活率等来提高物种多样性、稳定群落结构和通过连通生境斑块来提高生态系统多样性。因此,构建基于生态系统的种子传播网络对保护生物多样性具有重要意义。     

Effects of temperature and light on seed germination of ephemeral plants in the Gurbantunggut Desert,China: implications for vegetation restoration

Seed germination is a key transitional stage in plant life cycle and is strongly regulated by temperature and light. Therefore, research on the effects of temperature and light on seed germination is extremely meaningful for vegetation restoration, especially in desert ecosystems. Seeds of 28 ephemeral plants collected from the Gurbantunggut Desert of China were incubated at different temperatures (5°C/1°C, 15°C/5°C, 20°C/5°C, 25°C/10°C and 30°C/15°C) in 12-h light/12-h darkness or continuous darkness regimes, and the responses of seed germination to temperature and light and the germination speed were studied in 2016. Results showed that seed germination percentage of the 28 ephemeral plants significantly differed to temperature and light. We classified the studied plants as the following groups based on their responses to temperature: 1 low temperature responsed plants, 12 moderate temperature responsed plants, 7 high temperature responsed plants, 4 non-responsed plants and 5 plants of no germination. It should be noted that Corispermum lehmannianum Bunge is sensitive to both moderate and high temperatures. There were 4 groups of plant in response to light, i.e., 7 light responsed plants, 10 dark responsed plants, 6 light non-responsed plants and 5 plants of no germination. Based on seed germination speed of the 28 ephemeral plants, we divided them into 4 patterns of germination, i.e., very rapid, moderately rapid, moderate and slow. Combining variations of temperature, precipitation and sand dune types in the study area, we suggested that very rapid and moderately rapid germinated plants could be used to moving sand dunes in early spring during vegetation restoration, moderate germinated plants could be used to semi-fixed sand dunes in late autumn, and slow germinated plants could be used to sand plain in summer. Thus, seedling establishment and vegetation restoration would be improved by considering seed germination characteristics of these ephemeral plants in the Gurbantunggut Desert, China.     

Seed dormancy and soil seedbank of the invasive weed Chenopodium hybridum in north‐western China

Seed dormancy and persistence in the soil seedbank play a key role in timing of germination and seedling emergence of weeds; thus, knowledge of these traits is required for effective weed management. We investigated seed dormancy and seed persistence on/in soil of Chenopodium hybridum, an annual invasive weed in north‐western China. Fresh seeds are physiologically dormant. Sulphuric acid scarification, mechanical scarification and cold stratification significantly increased germination percentages, whereas dry storage and treatments with plant growth regulators or nitrate had no effect. Dormancy was alleviated by piercing the seed coat but not the pericarp. Pre‐treatment of seeds collected in 2012 and 2013 with sulphuric acid for 30 min increased germination from 0% to 66% and 62% respectively. Effect of cold stratification on seed germination varied with soil moisture content (MC) and duration of treatment; seeds stratified in soil with 12% MC for 2 months germinated to 39%. Burial duration, burial depth and their interaction had significant effects on seed dormancy and seed viability. Dormancy in fresh seeds was released from October to February, and seeds re‐entered dormancy in April. Seed viability decreased with time for seeds on the soil surface and for those buried at a depth of 5 cm, and 39% and 10%, respectively, were viable after 22 months. Thus, C. hybridum can form at least a short‐lived persistent soil seedbank.     

苦豆子种子特性与种群扩展关系的研究

苦豆子(Sophora alopecuroides L.)种子体积大,千粒重达21.6g。种皮较厚,制约了种子的萌发,采用浓硫酸浸种和机械磨损破坏种皮明显提高了萌发率。种子散布主要依靠自身重力,其散布格局是聚集型散布,多分布在母株周围,为该区域的种子库提供较多的种质资源。此外,还有动物散布和水力作用的散布,使种子能传播较远的距离,同时种子被采食后,通过消化道的磨损使种皮的通透性提高,促进了种子的萌发。     

Soil nitrogen fertilisation as a maternal effect on Buglossoides arvensis seed germinability

Different ecological strategies are developed by weed species to improve their fitness under unpredictable environmental conditions. Maternal effects are a way to enhance the performance of progeny. The external ecological environment of mother plants influences phenotypic traits of the progeny, such as seed germinability. Buglossoides arvensis is a facultative winter annual weed species present in cereal crops of the semiarid temperate region of Argentina. Recently, the intensification of agricultural systems has led to a significant increment of external inputs, such as nitrogen fertilisers. In this work, we aimed to determine the effect of different maternal nitrogen fertiliser levels on the germinability of two successive progenies (F₁–F₂). A population‐based model was used to estimate thermal time parameters. Our results indicated that under field conditions, nitrogen fertilisation produced an increment on the germinability of the progeny. Nitrogen supply promoted a widening of the permissive germination thermal range through an increment in the mean maximum germination temperature. However, different maternal fertilisation levels did not influence germination thermal time requirements either in F₁ or F₂ progenies_. It might be inferred that a significant increment of nitrogen fertiliser supply could increase the probability of occurrence of very early emergence fluxes of B. arvensis. From a weed control perspective, the occurrence of early cohorts during summer may demand a redesign of control tactics, to minimise the potential economic and environmental impact of chemical interventions.     

Lipid content drives weed seed consumption by ground beetles (Coleopterea,Carabidae) within the smallest seeds

Seed predation by natural predators can contribute to the regulation of the weed seedbank, hence has been acknowledged as a promising way to significantly reduce the use of chemicals and mechanical weeding to manage arable weeds. However, the complex aspects that determine seed species preference are not yet fully understood, especially, the relationship between weed seed traits and the feeding behaviour of seed predator species. In this study, we examine predation on 42 weed species by four ground beetle species as a function of two major seed traits: seed mass and seed lipid content. We used an _original experimental design to create a statistically independent trait value distribution for evaluating the separate and interactive effects of these two traits. Our results show that all the ground beetles species consumed weed seeds, but at different rates. The smallest weed seeds with high lipid content were among the most consumed. While seed mass might be limiting for ground beetles, due to ease of handling or the thickness of the seed coat, they may preferentially consume seeds rich in lipids to increase energy uptake. To our knowledge, this study is the first to reveal that two major seed traits drive seed predation by ground beetles.     

Inter-population variabilities in seed mass and germination of Panicum turgidum and Pennisetum divisum in the desert of Kuwait

Understanding variability in seed germination among populations is essential for planning an effective germplasm collection for restoration and conservation purposes.The knowledge of germination and dormancy patterns among populations of desert grasses is crucial for determining the potential of the species and populations to be used for restoration and conservation as well as forage production.Variability in seed germination of Panicum turgidum Forssk and Pennisetum divisum(Gmel.)Henr.in the desert of Kuwait was evaluated in different populations in May 2017.Experiment of seed germination(25 seeds and 4 replicates)was conducted for each population at night/day temperatures of 15℃/20℃and 20℃/30℃under the following light condition:continuous darkness or 12 h/12 h light/dark.Results showed that seed masses of both species strongly varied according to their seed provenances,and both species produced heavier seeds in population with a higher soil electrical conductivity.Seed germination percentage considerably varied between two species,and the variation in P.turgidum was greater(17%–49%)than that of P.divisum(72%–93%).Germination percentage in P.turgidum was greater at high temperature(20℃/30℃)than at low temperature(15℃/20℃).However,temperature regimes had no effect on germination percentage of P.divisum seeds.Mean germination time of both species exhibited significant inter-population variability.This result is especially relevant to assure the selection of the best population of each species and the regeneration success of the species.Besides this,inter-population variability also provides valuable information for enhancing our understanding of the mechanisms that regulate seed germination and how they might be related to seed provenance.     

Influence of defoliation on reproductive capacity and growth in Buddleja davidii

This study aims at quantifying the effects of defoliation on seed production and germination in Buddleja davidii , and determining the potential for reducing the invasive success of the species. The effects of defoliation on seed production and germination at the flower spike and plant levels were investigated for control plants and plants that were defoliated by 66% at monthly intervals from mid-summer (January) to mid-autumn (April). Seed samples for germination were collected in late autumn (May). Defoliation reduced flower spike number per shoot, seed number per flower spike and average seed mass by 9%, 22% and 13% and 30%, 33% and 17% on main and side shoots, respectively. In contrast, emergent leaf area per shoot in the defoliated plants exceeded that for the control plants by 89%. The ratio of total seed mass per plant/emergent leaf area per shoot was significantly lower in the defoliated compared with the control plants by 50%. Defoliation did not affect the timing or rate of seed germination. Defoliation of B. davidii resulted in a marked decrease in reproductive capacity, consistent with the priority allocation of resources to compensational leaf area growth.     

梭梭种子性状和繁殖力的遗传变异与评价

通过对梭梭6个种源的种子性状和繁殖力的研究,结果表明:(1)不同种源间种子性状和繁殖力存在显著差异,其质量指标差异大于形态指标,即单株种子重差异最大,千粒重次之,果翅长度最小;成活率的差异性明显大于发芽率。(2)各种源区间的种子性状和繁殖力之间的遗传差异为极显著水平,环境差异为显著水平,梭梭种子质量主要受遗传基因控制,而种子繁殖力则受遗传基因和环境因素及土壤等多重因素控制。(3)种子各性状与成活率均呈正相关。除果翅长度与成活率相关不密切外,其它性状之间均为极显著相关。(4)在种子果翅长度、千粒重、单株种子重、发芽率和成活率等5个指标中,变异程度最高的是单株种子重,最低者为成活率;各种源区种子各性状具有较高的重复力(0.8580~0.9737),受强度遗传基因控制,通过种源选择可望获得良好效果;通过对发芽率指标选择,可比直接从成活率选择提高2.40%~24.86%(10%的选择率)的遗传进度;经综合选优评价,内蒙磴口种源的种子性状和繁殖力最好,青海次之,其次为甘肃和内蒙乌后旗,内蒙额旗和新疆最差。     

盐和PEG模拟干旱胁迫对沙米种子萌发及幼苗生长的影响

研究不周浓度盐溶液(NaCl、MgSO4、盐渍土壤)和PEG模拟干旱胁迫对沙米种子吸胀、萌发和幼苗生长的影响,并观察胁迫解除后种子的反应.结果表明:随着NaCl、MgSO4和PEG浓度的升高,沙米种子吸胀率先升后降,种子萌发率呈现不同程度降低,盐渍土壤溶液对萌发率没有显著影响;对沙米种子萌发和幼苗生长的胁迫效应是NaC...     

Dormancy and viability of Phalaris minor seed in a rice–wheat cropping system

Seed placement, soil temperature and soil moisture content influenced the process of after-ripening in Phalaris minor seeds. Seeds of P. minor collected from the soil just after wheat harvesting exhibited higher germination than seeds from P. minor threshed directly. There was a pronounced impact of periodic inhabitation of seed into the soil on germination after its dispersal. Germination was strongly inhibited when the seed was kept in soil at more than field capacity (FC) or in water. Maximum germination of seed incubated in soil at FC occurred at 30°C while a temperature of 40°C favoured after-ripening of seed when mixed with dry soil or kept dry without any medium. Release from conditional dormancy was quicker in the seed retrieved from the soil kept at 20°C than at 10°C. Seed release from conditional dormancy and germination increased with a rise in temperature from 30 to 40°C when the seed was retrieved from incubation in soil at FC for 70 days. The seed kept immersed in water was least responsive to a rise in temperature. Seed recovered from dry soil, or kept without any medium, responded quickly at both temperatures. Light enhanced the germination of Phalaris minor seed. The seedbank subjected to rice (Oryza sativa) field management conditions lost vigour in comparison with the seed stored in laboratory. There was significant variability in seed viability when exposed to differential water management conditions in rice.     

Weed seed movement and dispersal strategies in the agricultural environment

This paper reviews the current knowledge on weed seed movement in an agricultural environment. Seed movement is analyzed both from an agronomic and ecological perspective, focusing predominantly on horizontal seed movement. Abiotic (anemochory and hydrochory), as well as biotic (autochory, myrmecochory, epizoochory, and endozoochory) weed seed dispersal typologies are examined, highlighting the mechanisms involved, the specializations displayed by weed species that have evolved by exploiting a particular dispersal mechanism, and their adaptive interaction with the surrounding ecosystem. Emphasis is also placed on the crucial role of human activity (anthropochory), which can affect natural (biotic and abiotic) weed seed dispersal at several stages, partly via the worldwide commercial seed trade but, above all, by crop management operations, thereby potentially facilitating the entry and spread of alien weed species. This phenomenon, together with the invasive expansion of existing weeds that more successfully coevolve and adapt to the new environment, might exert an adverse effect on biodiversity. In-depth knowledge of weed seed dispersal, survival, and germination mechanisms is therefore essential for effective and eco-compatible management of the weed phytocoenoses present in the agroecosystem in order to promote a rational trade-off between agricultural productivity and environmental protection.     

黄土高原不同地区杜松的种子萌发特性及其与生态因子的相关性

选取黄土高原5个地区杜松(Juniperus rigida)种子,采用种子萌发实验及相关分析的方法,研究其大小特征、萌发特性及其与生态因子的相关性,以了解不同地区杜松的种子萌发特性。结果表明,不同地区杜松的种子大小差异显著,府谷地区的种子最大、最重,平均长6.83 mm,宽3.56 mm,千粒重为25.89 g;种子长及种子长宽比随纬度的升高、土壤全磷含量的增加而变小;种子千粒重随1月和7月均温的增加而增加,随土壤有机质、速效磷、全氮含量的增加而减少。种子大小对萌发特征影响显著,种子萌发率、萌发势及发芽指数均随种子长、种子长宽比的增加呈减小的趋势。不同地区杜松的萌发差异显著,武川的种子萌发最快最高,府谷与贺兰山最慢、最低;萌发率、萌发势及发芽指数均随纬度的升高而增加,萌发势和发芽指数随土壤全磷含量的增加而增加。研究认为武川及浑源地区是杜松优良的选种地。     

贯叶金丝桃（Hypericum perforatum）种子灌浆与发芽特性研究

贯叶金丝桃（Hypericum perforatum）是抗抑郁中药的基原植物,以有性繁殖为主,种子微小。为了揭示贯叶金丝桃种子发育规律,明确种子适宜采收期,以甘肃礼县栽培的2年生贯叶金丝桃为研究对象,于开花后第5天开始,每隔3 d测定种子粒重变化动态,并拟合Logistic曲线方程,最后测定各时期采收种子的发芽指标。结果表明：贯叶金丝桃种子灌浆持续期44 d,籽粒干质量变化符合Logistic生长曲线：开花后第5～11天为渐增期,第11～32天为快增期,第32～44天进入稳增期后略有下降。在灌浆过程中,种子鲜质量呈先升高后下降的动态变化趋势,在花后第32天达到最大值0.2697 g;灌浆速率和脱水速率呈波动趋势,种子干质量与平均灌浆速率、灌浆持续期呈极显著正相关,与含水量呈极显著负相关。种子发芽率和发芽指数在开花后44天达到最大,发芽势在开花后41天达到最大,发芽率、发芽势和发芽指数均与灌浆持续期呈极显著正相关,与含水量呈极显著负相关。以上说明甘肃礼县贯叶金丝桃繁种时以开花后44天左右（8月9日前后）为种子采收适宜期,过早采收和延迟采收均影响种子发芽质量。     

How much of seed dormancy in weeds can be related to seed traits?

Seed dormancy contributes to species persistence in unpredictable environments and is a key process to be taken into account in weed dynamics models. As the level of seed dormancy, photosensitivity and the dates of dormancy induction and release are difficult to measure, our objective was to relate weed seed dormancy with morphological, chemical or physiological seed traits and with expert knowledge. Dormancy of four species was studied experimentally during a 2‐year seed burial experiment. Experiments were supplemented with data from the literature to increase the number of species analysed, resulting in a data set of 29 species. Proportions of non–dormant seeds were higher for elongated than spherical seeds, even when accounting for phylogenetic relatedness between species. Elongated seeds, which tend to remain on the soil surface in undisturbed habitats, may have been selected for lack of dormancy and immediate germination to limit mortality due to predation. Dormancy increased with seed coat thickness, which can act as a chemical and physical barrier to germination, while no relation was found with seed lipid or protein content. No correlation was found between photosensitivity parameters and any of the species traits analysed. Variations in dormancy dates (induction and release) were highly correlated with average field emergence season estimated from expert knowledge. The observed correlations suggest that the level of dormancy results both from direct and from indirect effects of traits being involved in trade‐offs together with seed mortality.     

鲜食玉米种子包衣对地下害虫的防控以及苗期生长发育的影响

为研究3种种衣剂对鲜食玉米主要地下害虫的防治效果以及对幼苗生长发育的影响，从而筛选出高效低毒的种衣剂。试验以京科甜183和京科糯2010为试验品种，比较了3.5%满适金＋30%锐胜、福亮（40%溴酰·噻虫嗪种子处理悬浮剂）和50亿孢子/g球孢白僵菌3种种衣剂的室内和田间试验结果。结果表明：各药剂处理对鲜食玉米均不产生药害，出苗安全，没有发现药害植株。种子包衣可提高种子活力和出苗率，其中在3.5%满适金＋30%锐胜处理下，京科甜183的发芽势和发芽率最高，分别达到91.5%和92.75%；京科糯2010在50亿/g球孢白僵菌的处理下发芽率达到最高，为93.00%，发芽势在3.5%满适金＋30%锐胜处理下达到最高，为91.50%。3种种衣剂都能促进幼苗的株高和干物质的积累。对于地下害虫的防治效果，其中50亿孢子/g球孢白僵菌对地下害虫的防治效果最好，对京科甜183和京科糯2010的地下害虫的防治效果达到79.67%和88.67%。为了既能促进植株生长发育又能很好的防治地下害虫，生产中推荐球孢白僵菌与低毒种衣剂菌药混用。     

Inhibition of seed germination and seedling growth by hound's-tongue (Cynoglossum officinale L.) seed leachate

The leaching of phenolics from decoated seeds, seed coats and pericarps of hound's-tongue ( Cynoglossum officinale L.), factors affecting leaching, and seed germination and seedling growth inhibitory activities of the leachate were investigated. Embryonic axes and cotyledons contained a large amount of methanol-soluble phenolic substances. Decoated seeds released phenolics into an aqueous incubation medium and this solution was capable of inhibiting root elongation of several grassy and broadleaf species, but not of hound's-tongue. The leachate and the phenolic fraction of the leachate inhibited germination of bluebunch wheatgrass ( Pseudoroegnaria spicata (Pursh) A. Löve [syn. Agropyron spicatum (Pursh) Scribn. and J. G. Sm.]). The non-phenolic fraction of the leachate did not inhibit seed germination or root and shoot elongation of bluebunch wheatgrass. Low oxygen and an increasing temperature significantly increased the amount of phenolic substances leached from decoated seeds. Increased leaching of phenolic substances related to an increasing temperature was associated with the loss of seed viability. Further investigation of the role of water-extractable hound's-tongue seed phenolics in the interaction of this species with its biotic environment under field conditions is needed to determine the ecological significance of these findings.     

Delayed seed dispersal species and related traits in the desert of the United Arab Emirates

The ability of plants to safely retain seeds in the mother plant is an adaptive mechanism described in many desert plants. However, research about delayed seed dispersal species in the desert of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is lacking. This study aims to identify these delayed seed dispersal species and assess the relationships of the presence of delayed seed dispersal with plant growth form, habit, spatial dispersal, antitelechoric mechanism, and seed release time. The relationships between the presence of delayed seed dispersal and the above studied traits were assessed by using the Pearson Chi-square test and Nonlinear Principal Components Analysis (NLPCA). Results showed that a total of 46 delayed seed dispersal species were recorded (15.0% of 307 studied species) and the highest incidence occurred in the Fabaceae family (17.4%). Delayed seed dispersal species were predominantly perennial plants (73.9%) with spatial restricted dispersal (67.4%), which released seed in the dry season (45.7%). The dominant groups of delayed seed dispersal species were persistent fruits species and synaptospermy (28.3%). All graminoids showed persistent lignified fruits, while prostrate annuals were basicarpic species with myxospermy. Sandy habitats had the highest number of delayed seed dispersal species (54.3%), whereas salt flats had the lowest (23.9%). In the desert of the UAE, delayed seed dispersal species spread seeds until the end of the dry and windy season, thus breaking seed dormancy at this time and ensuring seed germination in the next arrival of the rainy season. This morphological and ecological adaptation of delayed dispersal species is essential to the survival and sustainable development of vegetation in desert environments.     

7种激素对蒺藜状苜蓿种子发芽的影响

本实验旨在研究蒺藜状苜蓿种子发芽对外源激素的响应。使用6-BA、GA3、ABA、NAA、乙烯利I、AA和IBA共7种激素,每一激素各设0.1、1.0、1.5、2.0、5、10、201、000μmol/L共8种浓度梯度,浸湿滤纸发芽床,置50粒蒺藜状苜蓿种子进行发芽试验,以蒸馏水处理为对照,设3个重复,统计发芽率、发芽势、发芽指数和发芽天数。结果显示:外源激素20μmol/L 6-BA、GA3、乙烯利和5μmol/L IAAI、BA促进蒺藜状苜蓿种子发芽,NAA和ABA抑制蒺藜状苜蓿种子发芽,ABA抑制能力较强。