Testing achene germinationof Potamogeton praelongus Wulfen

Abstract

The goal of this work was to determine the best method of breaking the achene dormancy in Potamogeton praelongus Wulfen. The ways of breaking achene dormancy studied in this experiment included methods of achene storage, stratification, UVA radiation, anaerobic conditions, mechanical disruption of achenes?outer layers and their chemical disruption by NaClO. Nine different treatments of achenes were combined with two methods of achene storage. Particular achene treatments and storage conditions were proven to have a significant impact on breaking dormancy. Although the highest germination rate (83.3%) was achieved when the dormancy was broken chemically by long effect of 100% concentrations of Savo detergent (containing 5% NaClO), the growth of the sprouts was subsequently inhibited due to toxic effects of Savo. Thus the most successful treatment was based on changing temperature, e.g. 2.5 months of cold storage followed by 14 days at room temperature (germination rate 32.7%). This treatment was also most similar to the natural process. Germinated achenes were also found in Petri dishes exposed to UVA radiation, anaerobic conditions and chemical disruption of the outer layers. Results of these treatments were influenced by the storage method.

Protocol for acclimatization of in vitro cultured Potamogeton praelongus – aspect of plantlet size and type of substrate

“…Genetic analyses detected a low level of intra-and interpopulation genetic diversity in the Czech micropopulations [6] due to clonal growth, as known with other aquatic plant populations [7]. In nature, the achenes of P. praelongus are probably only used for colonization of new sites [8]. Present results indicate that the genetic variability of the micropopulations can be considerably increased by sexual reproduction in rescue cultures.…”

“…Current efforts in the frame of the rescue program for P. praelongus in the CR [29] aim to use the most recent findings about dormancy breaking in P. praelongus achenes [8] to gain genetically variable material for repatriations and re-introductions. The aim of this experiment was to find an alternative, possibly more efficient, method to rescue this critically endangered species in the CR and Central Europe.…”

“…Germination tests were conducted during 2007-2013 to determine how to use the generative reproductive ability of the plant, which is strongly restricted by dormancy [8,15]. A P. praelongus tissue culture was set up in Ostrava (Czech Republic) and 30 clones are maintained there at present.…”

Differences in Potamogeton praelongus Morphology and Habitats in Europe

“…All these parameters were selected because of their ability to indicate environmental variability and availability to be measured in all the studied sites (fertile individuals were not found at all localities). To verify a preference of vegetative to generative reproduction, we also counted the number of germinating plants of P. praelongus, the determination of which was based on our knowledge of seed germination stages and plantlet growth from laboratory germination tests (Prausová et al, 2013;Prausová, Sikorová, & Šafářová, 2015).…”

“…Long-stalked pondweed (Potamogeton praelongus) is a submerged perennial aquatic plant with a long perennial rhizome (Kaplan, 2010). e shoot length varies depending on water depth and transparency ; the seeds have a physiological dormancy and germinate aer stratification (Prausová et al, 2013). Genetic analyses have revealed a very low genetic diversity in existing micropopulations of the Czech Republic (CR) (Kitner et al, 2013).…”