Effect of cold exposure on seed germination of 58 plant species comprising several functional groups from a mid-mountain Mediterranean area

Luna, Belén; Pérez, Beatriz; Céspedes, Blanca; Moreno, José M.

doi:10.2980/15-4-3156

Cited by 18 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 40 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…No increased germination in simulated-winter or simulated-spring in LS soils in comparison with ES was observed, as would have been expected if cold requirements or other mechanisms of physiological dormancy had been present (Baskin and Baskin 1998). These data corroborate laboratory experiments that showed that cold exposure is not required for germination in several groups of Mediterranean species (Giménez-Benavides et al 2005;Luna et al 2008), although this may not apply to all shrubby species (Trigueros Vera et al 2010). As discussed above, the impact of these changes in the relative temporal patterns of germination on the shrub-herbs interactions is probably not very important since the simulated-autumn germination peak was dominant, although field studies need to verify this.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Soil seed bank, fire season, and temporal patterns of germination in a seeder-dominated Mediterranean shrubland

et al. 2011

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Soil seed banks play a major role in the post-fire regeneration of Mediterranean shrublands. They vary throughout the year in species composition, abundance, and readiness to germinate. After fire, germination occurs mainly during the following fall to spring. Time of germination can determine recruitment success. It is unclear what factors control postfire germination and its timing. We tested the effects of season and fire on the readily germinable soil seed bank of a seeder-dominated shrubland. Plots were burned early and late in the summer season (ES, LS). Soil samples were collected before and after fire, and germinated in a chamber simulating successively autumn, winter, and spring conditions. Samples were kept moistened at all times. Fire intensity was similar between ES and LS. Several species of Cistus and herbs, mostly annuals, were dominant. Most germination occurred during the simulated-autumn period, with little subsequent germination during the following two periods. Germination speed (T 50 ) during simulated-autumn was similar for shrubs and herbs, and independent of season or fire. Germination was lower for two shrubs (Rosmarinus officinalis, Cistus salvifolius) and higher for herbaceous dicots in LS than in ES soils. Fire reduced monocots and enhanced Cistus. Germination period significantly interacted with fire and season in some groups or species, altering the simulated-autumn germination peak. We demonstrate that the seed bank can germinate swiftly under simulated-autumn conditions. Hence, water availability is the main controlling factor of germination. Fire season differentially affected some species or groups, and could affect the post-fire regeneration.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Soil seed bank, fire season, and temporal patterns of germination in a seeder-dominated Mediterranean shrubland

et al. 2011

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Different letters indicate significant differences (p < 0.05) between treatments. Cold-stratification, generally in the range of 1-10 °C, is effective for breaking seed dormancy in a number of species (Bewley & Black 1994) and our results also support this conclusion for E. australis, even if for other Mediterranean species this treatment did not play a crucial role (Giménez-Benavides et al 2005, Luna et al 2008. A stratification time of 60 days is useful for removing embryo dormancy in many plants (Bewley & Black 1994); in E. australis, 15 days of wet cold-stratification were sufficient to break dormancy, although final germination increased approximately three-fold when time of stratification was duplicated.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 80%

Effect of Chemical and Physical Treatments on Seed Germination ofErica australis

Vera

Parra

Oliva

2010

Annales Botanici Fennici

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

We studied the germination of Erica australis seeds and their responses to different treatments (high temperature, acidic condition, cold stratification, gibberellic acid applications). Germination was very low in untreated seeds (3%) and required approximately one month to start, but increased in all the treatments tested, reaching a value of 100% when seeds were treated with gibberellic acid (25 ppm). Exposure to heat and to low pH promotes germination and reduces time to germinate, which indicates that germination is related to passage of fire and to soil pH. Germination of this species is also correlated with wet and cold conditions and dormancy can be classified as being of the physiological type.

show abstract

“…Fire is common, and germination thereafter occurs mainly in autumn, after the first rains (Moreno et al ., 2011; Céspedes et al ., 2012; Sánchez et al ., 2014). Cold stratification is often not required for germination (Luna et al ., 2008). Germination proceeds from autumn until the next spring, due to temperature and/or water limitations (Quintana et al ., 2004; Moreno et al ., 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Local climate controls among-population variation in germination patterns in twoEricaspecies across western Iberia

2018

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In seasonal climates, germination timing is mainly controlled by temperature, especially in species with physiological seed dormancy. The germination response to temperature may, however, vary among populations across the distribution range of species. Understanding how populations along climate gradients vary in their sensitivity to temperature is important for determining their vulnerability to climate variability and change. Here, we investigated the germination response of two Erica species with physiological seed dormancy (E. australis and E. umbellata) to changes in temperature throughout the seasons (simulated autumn through to spring) and to the local climate in six localities across a latitudinal gradient in western Iberia. Effects were studied with and without exposing the seeds to a heat shock. The local climate of seed provenance emerged as a key factor in modifying the germination sensitivity to germination temperature and their variation through the seasons. Although each species showed idiosyncratic germination responses to temperature treatments and across the gradient, germination of both species was sensitive to warmer temperatures and to a heat shock. Both showed similar seasonal germination patterns: as we moved from south to north, populations tended to have a larger germination peak in spring, which was greater at colder temperatures. We conclude that rising temperatures associated with climate change will affect these species, particularly at their northern ranges, where many seeds will remain dormant during warmer winters. Arguably, models aiming at assessing climate change impacts in these species need to include such variability across latitude.

show abstract

Effect of cold exposure on seed germination of 58 plant species comprising several functional groups from a mid-mountain Mediterranean area

Cited by 18 publications

References 40 publications

Soil seed bank, fire season, and temporal patterns of germination in a seeder-dominated Mediterranean shrubland

Soil seed bank, fire season, and temporal patterns of germination in a seeder-dominated Mediterranean shrubland

Effect of Chemical and Physical Treatments on Seed Germination ofErica australis

Local climate controls among-population variation in germination patterns in twoEricaspecies across western Iberia

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About