What can routine germination tests in seed banks tell us about the germination ecology of endemic and protected species?

Abstract

Protocols for the conservation of threatened plants are often constrained by the absence of data on germination ecology. However, seed bank managers periodically monitor the viability of stored seed collections using germination tests. Here, we argue that data from those tests can and should be used to provide information on germination requirements of threatened species. Twelve taxa endemic to Portugal were used as a test case to determine the effect of incubation temperature and pretreatments upon germination and to identify major factors eliciting germination and releasing dormancy. We achieved maximum germination percentages >95% for nine taxa. Temperature significantly affected the final germination and mean germination time in most taxa. Maximum and faster germination at cool temperatures (15 °C or alternate 20/10 °C) was the prevailing trend. Cold stratification improved germination in one species, suggesting physiological dormancy. Scarification increased the germination percentage of one species among those expected to exhibit physical dormancy. Seed bank data provided valuable information on germination ecology, which can be used in in-situ conservation and as a baseline for further germination studies. Given the increasing threats to plant diversity, accessibility to seed bank data are paramount.

Temperature and Imbibition Influence Serianthes Seed Germination Behavior

“…Conservation efforts with threatened terrestrial plant species often include germination of seeds to produce plants for recovery purposes and to test viability during long-term seed storage. In order to increase the understanding of germination biology of a threatened model species, these propagation steps can be designed such that non-destructive experiments enable the generation of new information in the process [28]. In this case study, all of the seedlings resulting from germinated S. nelsonii seeds were not influenced by the treatments and were added to a conservation nursery to advance recovery efforts.…”

Phytotoxic Effects of Antibiotics on Terrestrial Crop Plants and Wild Plants: A Systematic Review

“…The principle of the seed emergence assay is to determine seed vigour, which can reliably predict field performance. This assay is usually applied to monitor the viability of stored seed collections, but it has also been recommended for obtaining information on the germination requirements of threatened species (Clemente 2017 ). Seeding is a conservative process, and the seed coat acts as a barrier to protect the plant embryo from the negative impacts of environmental contaminants such as pharmaceuticals (Hillis et al 2011 ; Rede et al 2019 ).…”

Phytotoxic Effects of Antibiotics on Terrestrial Crop Plants and Wild Plants: A Systematic Review

“…The principle of the seed emergence assay is to determine seed vigour, which can reliably predict eld performance. This assay is usually applied to monitor the viability of stored seed collections, but it has also been recommended to provide information on the germination requirements of threatened species (Clemente, 2017). Seeding is a conservative process and the seed coat acts as a barrier to protect the plant embryo from the negative impacts of environmental contaminants such as pharmaceuticals (Hillis et al, 2011, Rede et al, 2019.…”