Seed dormancy and germination of Ficus lundellii and tropical forest restoration

We investigated seed dormancy and germination in Ficus lundellii Standl. (Moraceae), a native species of Mexico's Los Tuxtlas tropical rain forest. In an 8-h photoperiod at an alternating diurnal (16/8 h) temperature of 20/30 degrees C, germination was essentially complete (96%) within 28 days,...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Tree physiology 2006, Vol.26 (1), p.81-85
Main Authors: Garcia, X, Hong, T.D, Ellis, R.H
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
artificial regeneration
buried seeds
Circadian Rhythm
Conservation of Natural Resources
dormancy breaking
Ecosystem
epiphytes
Ficus
Ficus - physiology
Ficus lundellii
Forestry
Germination
Light
light intensity
Mexico
Photoperiod
quantitative analysis
seed dormancy
seed germination
Seeds - growth & development
Seeds - metabolism
Seeds - physiology
Seeds - radiation effects
Temperature
Time Factors
Trees
tropical forests
Water - metabolism
Citations: Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:We investigated seed dormancy and germination in Ficus lundellii Standl. (Moraceae), a native species of Mexico's Los Tuxtlas tropical rain forest. In an 8-h photoperiod at an alternating diurnal (16/8 h) temperature of 20/30 degrees C, germination was essentially complete (96%) within 28 days, whereas in darkness, all seeds remained dormant. Neither potassium nitrate (0.05-0.2%) applied continuously nor gibberellic acid applied either continuously (10-200 ppm) or as a 24 hour pretreatment (2000 ppm) induced germination in the dark. Germination in the light was not reduced by a 24-h hydrochloric acid (0.1-1%) pretreatment, but it was reduced both by a 24-h pretreatment with either H2O2 (0.1-5 M) or 5% HCl, or by more than 5 days of storage at 40 degrees C (4.5% seed water content). In a study with a 2-dimensional temperature gradient plate, seeds germinated fully and rapidly in the light at a constant temperature of 30 degrees C, and fully but less rapidly in the light at alternating temperatures with low amplitudes (< 12 degrees C) about the optimal constant temperature. The base, optimal and ceiling temperatures for rate of germination were estimated as 13.8, 30.1 and 41.1 degrees C, respectively. In all temperature regimes, light was essential for the germination of F. lundellii seeds.
ISSN:0829-318X
1758-4469
DOI:10.1093/treephys/26.1.81