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Intermediate complex morphophysiological dormancy in the endemic Iberian Aconitum napellus subsp. castellanum (Ranunculaceae)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 February 2010

José M. Herranz ,
Miguel Á. Copete ,
Pablo Ferrandis  and
Elena Copete
José M. Herranz
Affiliation:
E.T.S.I.A., Department of Plant Production and Agricultural Technology, University of Castilla-La Mancha, University Campus s/n, Albacete02071, Spain
Miguel Á. Copete*
Affiliation:
E.T.S.I.A., Department of Plant Production and Agricultural Technology, University of Castilla-La Mancha, University Campus s/n, Albacete02071, Spain
Pablo Ferrandis
Affiliation:
E.T.S.I.A., Department of Plant Production and Agricultural Technology, University of Castilla-La Mancha, University Campus s/n, Albacete02071, Spain
Elena Copete
Affiliation:
E.T.S.I.A., Department of Plant Production and Agricultural Technology, University of Castilla-La Mancha, University Campus s/n, Albacete02071, Spain
*
*Correspondence Fax: +34 967 599238 Email: miguel.copete@uclm.es
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Abstract

Seeds of Aconitum napellus subsp. castellanum were physiologically dormant at maturity in early autumn, with underdeveloped embryos. Thus they have morphophysiological dormancy (MPD). Embryos in fresh seeds were on average 1.01 mm long, and they had to grow to 3.60 mm before radicle emergence. Cold stratification at 5°C for 5 months with light enhanced the mean embryo length to 2.73 mm (SE = 0.13) and seed germination to 20%. However, with higher temperatures (15/4, 20/7, 25/10, 28/14 and 32/18°C) embryo growth was small, with no seeds germinating. Optimal germination was achieved after 4 months of cold stratification at 5°C followed by incubation at 20/7°C for 1 month with light, when germination ranged between 70 and 79%, depending on seed age, locality and year of collection. Cold stratification could be substituted by the application of GA3 solution, since mean embryo length in seeds incubated at 25/10°C for 1 month with light was 3.52 mm and the germination was 80%. Since cold stratification was the only requirement for the loss of MPD, the longest embryo growth occurred during this treatment, and GA3 promoted MPD loss, we concluded that A. napellus seeds have intermediate complex MPD. Germination was higher in 4-month stored than in freshly matured seeds. A pronounced variability in germinative patterns at inter-annual and inter-population level was recorded.

Keywords

Aconitum napellus subsp. castellanumcold stratificationdormancy breakembryo growthgibberellic acidmorphophysiological dormancy
Type
Research Article
Information
Seed Science Research , Volume 20 , Issue 2 , June 2010 , pp. 109 - 121
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010

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