Seed germination capability of four endemic species in the Central Apennines (Italy): relationships with seed size

Abstract

Seed germination capability of Adonis distorta, Androsace mathildae, Aquilegia magellensis and Campanula fragilis subsp. cavolinii endemic species of the Central Apennines (Italy) were analyzed. Seed traits varied significantly among the considered species. In particular, seed volume was the largest in Adonis (91.642 ± 16.851 mm 3) and the lowest in Campanula (0.029 ± 0.008 mm 3). The seed coat thickness ranged from 31 ± 10 µm in Adonis to 9 ± 1 µm in Campanula. Pretreatments were carried out to improve seed germination. Seed germination did not happen in Adonis and Androsace in response to the applied treatments (i.e., 0, 250, 500 ppm gibberelic acid, GA3) and the cold-wet stratification. A 65 % increase of germination was observed after the pre-treatment with 500 ppm GA3 in Aquilegia which could be justified by an endogenous non-deep physiological dormancy. The final germination percentage increased by 26% in Aquilegia and decreased by 89% in Campanula after the cold-wet stratification treatment. The obtained results were used to define germination protocols which could be used in reinforcement projects for the wild populations of the considered endemic species as a means of reducing their extinction risk.

Conservation of Endangered Species: <i>Androsace mathildae</i> Levier (<i>Primulaceae</i>) in Central Italy

“…In vitro seed germinability was calculated 7 weeks after the implantation. The germinability of seeds placed on auxin-and cytokinin-free media was very low (ranging from 0% to 15%) as reported by other authors [34], while the percentage of sprouted seeds on auxinand cytokinin-containing media and pre-treated with Germinator ® was 91% ( Table 1).…”

Following the cold: geographical differentiation between interglacial refugia and speciation in the arcto‐alpine species complex Bombus monticola (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

“…Several studies have shown the presence of endemic taxa in the Central Apennines (e.g. in amphibians, Canestrelli et al ., ; Canestrelli et al ., and Mattoccia et al ., ; in reptiles, Joger et al ., ; in turtles, Fritz et al ., ; in plants, Conti et al ., , Fuente et al ., and Frattaroli et al ., ; and in bumblebees, Lecocq et al ., ). For example, Lecocq et al .…”

Analysis of intraspecific seed diversity in Astragalus aquilanus (Fabaceae), an endemic species of Central Apennine

“…The traits of seed shape are important for seed dispersal, probable loss and moisture imbibition (Balkaya & Odabas ; Cerdà & Garcıa‐Fayos ; Frattaroli et al . ) and also useful to study inter‐ and intraspecific diversity (Lo Bianco et al . ,b).…”