Seed mucilage effect on water uptake and germination in five species from the hyper-arid Arabian desert

Mucilage‐bound sand reduces seed predation by ants but not by reducing apparency: a field test of 53 plant species

“…In mistletoes, after ingestion by birds, mucilaginous seeds stick to stems that host plant parasites (e.g., Aukema and del Rio 2002). Mucilage may increase the probability of germination for some species, but reduce it for others (Bhatt et al 2016). Mucilage may increase the probability of germination for some species, but reduce it for others (Bhatt et al 2016).…”

Effects of seed colour heterogeneity on germination behaviour of the desert plant Lotononis platycarpa (Fabaceae)

“…Previous studies of various species have found different relationships between seed colour, seed mass and germination. The variation in colour and size of seeds and its effects on germination of legumes has been reported by several researchers (Coste et al 2001, Bhatt et al 2016a). In a comprehensive study of the germination of 70 species from the cold Gurbantunggut Desert in northwest China, Liu et al (2014) found that smaller seeds germinated faster than larger ones.…”

“…Previous studies have reported that the mechanisms preventing seed germination include physiological factors inside the embryo, as well as developmental constraints and mechanical barriers in the fruit or seed coat, suggesting that this may be a widespread phenomenon in many plant species. The low germination of both olive green and brown seeds may imply that they contribute more to the soil seed bank that ensure the persistence of the species during periods with unfavorable climatic conditions that commonly occur in desert environments (El-Keblawy et al 1997, Bhatt et al 2016a, 2016b. The faster germination of orange seeds at lower and moderate temperatures would enable the seedlings to establish themselves early in the growing season, profiting quickly of the favourable conditions then prevailing.…”

“…In Lotus halophilus Boiss. & Spruner, green seeds germinated significantly better than yellow seeds; however, yellow seeds germinated faster compared to black and green coloured seeds in Lotus glinoides Delile (Bhatt et al 2016a). Baskin et al (1998) studied the germination of untreated green and brown seeds of Senna obtusifolia (L.) H.S.Irwin & Barneby and found higher germination percentages of brown seeds, indicating that brown seeds are more water permeable than green seeds.…”

Different ecological strategies during the seed germination phase of nine grasses inhabiting the hyper‐arid Arabian desert

“…The effects of the temperature can be evaluated from changes in the percentage, velocity and relative frequency of germination during the incubation time and seeds of several species require alternating of temperatures to optimize their germination (Bhatt et al . ). This necessity most probably reflects an adaptation to natural fluctuations of the habitat (Zheng et al .…”