Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-cfpbc Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-19T11:10:18.265Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Seed germination ecology of the endemic Iberian winter annuals Iberis pectinata and Ziziphora aragonensis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 September 2009

Miguel Á. Copete ,
José M. Herranz  and
Pablo Ferrandis
Miguel Á. Copete*
Affiliation:
Department of Plant Production and Agricultural Technology, ETSIA, University of Castilla-La Mancha, University Campus s/n, Albacete02071, Spain
José M. Herranz
Affiliation:
Department of Plant Production and Agricultural Technology, ETSIA, University of Castilla-La Mancha, University Campus s/n, Albacete02071, Spain
Pablo Ferrandis
Affiliation:
Department of Plant Production and Agricultural Technology, ETSIA, University of Castilla-La Mancha, University Campus s/n, Albacete02071, Spain
*
*Correspondence Fax: +34 967 599238 Email: miguel.copete@uclm.es
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The germination ecology of the winter annual Iberian endemics Iberis pectinata and Ziziphora aragonensis was investigated in order to better understand adaptations of rare species to their natural habitat and to improve ex-situ propagation techniques and management of their habitat. Specifically, we analysed the following aspects: (1) influence of temperature, light conditions and seed age on germination patterns; (2) phenology of germination; (3) germinative response of buried seeds to seasonal temperature changes; and (4) temperature requirements for induction and breaking of secondary dormancy. Germination was substantially lower in darkness than with a photoperiod in both taxa, with this difference being more pronounced in Z. aragonensis. Freshly matured seeds showed conditional physiological dormancy, germinating at low and medium temperatures but not at high temperatures (28/14 and 32/18°C). Germination capability increased with time of dry storage in both species, suggesting the existence of non-deep physiological dormancy. Under greenhouse conditions, germination of both taxa was mostly concentrated in autumn (October–November), while spring percentages were less than 1% of total accumulated germination recorded during the study. I. pectinata and Z. aragonensis seeds buried and exposed to natural seasonal temperature variations in an unheated greenhouse came out of conditional dormancy in summer and re-entered it in winter, thus exhibiting an annual conditional dormancy/non-dormancy cycle. Dormant seeds of both species which were stratified at 28/14 or 32/18°C during an 8-week period, were non-dormant when they were subsequently incubated over a range of temperatures from 5 to 25/10°C. Non-dormant seeds were induced into dormancy when stratified at 5 or 15/4°C for 8 weeks, showing a particularly low germination response at high temperatures. Recommendations for wild-population reinforcement programmes and for the management of the natural habitat of both endemics are discussed.

Keywords

arable weeddormancy cyclesgermination phenologyIberis pectinataplant reinforcementseed burialZiziphora aragonensis
Type
Research Article
Information
Seed Science Research , Volume 19 , Issue 3 , September 2009 , pp. 155 - 169
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2009

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Albert, M.J., Iriondo, J.M. and Pérez-García, F. (2002) Effects of temperature and pretreatments on seed germination of nine semiarid species from NE Spain. Israel Journal of Plant Sciences 50, 103–112.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ayerbe, L. and Ceresuela, J.L. (1982) Germinación de especies endémicas españolas. Anales del INIA. Serie Forestal 6, 17–41.Google Scholar
Baskin, C.C. and Baskin, J.M. (2002) Studies on the seed germination and flowering stages of the life cycle of the shale barren endemic Arabis serotina Steele (Brassicaceae). Natural Areas Journal 22, 270–276.Google Scholar
Baskin, C.C. and Baskin, J.M. (2005) Seed dormancy in wild flowers. pp. 163–185in McDonald, M.B.; Kwong, F.Y. (Eds) Flower seeds. Biology and technology. Wallingford, UK, CABI Publishing.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Baskin, J.M. and Baskin, C.C. (1978) The seed bank in a population of an endemic plant species and its ecological significance. Biological Conservation 14, 125–130.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Baskin, J.M. and Baskin, C.C. (1981) Seasonal changes in the germination responses of buried Lamium amplexicaule seeds. Weed Research 21, 299–306.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Baskin, J.M. and Baskin, C.C. (1983) Germination ecology of Veronica arvensis. Journal of Ecology 71, 57–68.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Baskin, J.M. and Baskin, C.C. (1986) Temperature requirements for after-ripening in seeds of nine winter annuals. Weed Research 26, 375–380.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Baskin, J.M. and Baskin, C.C. (1989) Role of temperature in regulating timing of germination in soil seed reserves of Thlaspi arvense L. Weed Research 29, 317–326.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Baskin, J.M. and Baskin, C.C. (1990) Seed germination biology of the narrowly endemic species Lesquerella stonensis (Brassicaceae). Plant Species Biology 5, 205–213.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Baskin, J.M. and Baskin, C.C. (1992) Seed dormancy pattern and seed reserves as adaptations of the endemic winter annual Lesquerella lescurii (Brassicaceae) to its floodplain habitat. Natural Areas Journal 12, 184–190.Google Scholar
Baskin, J.M. and Baskin, C.C. (1998) Seeds. Ecology, biogeography, and evolution of dormancy and germination. San Diego, Academic Press.Google Scholar
Baskin, J.M. and Baskin, C.C. (2000) Seed germination ecology of Lesquerella lyrata Rollins (Brassicaceae), a federally threatened winter annual. Natural Areas Journal 20, 159–165.Google Scholar
Bell, D.T., Plummer, J.A. and Taylor, S.K. (1993) Seed germination ecology in southwestern Western Australia. The Botanical Review 59, 24–73.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bouwmeester, H.J. and Karssen, C.M. (1993a) Annual changes in dormancy and germination in seeds of Sisymbrium officinale (L.). Scop. New Phytologist 124, 179–191.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bouwmeester, H.J. and Karssen, C.M. (1993b) The effect of environmental conditions on the annual dormancy pattern of seeds of Spergula arvensis. Canadian Journal of Botany 71, 64–73.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bowes, B.G. (1999) A colour atlas of plant propagation and conservation. London, Manson Publishing Ltd.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Buchele, D.E., Baskin, J.M. and Baskin, C.C. (1989) Ecology of the endangered species Solidago shortii. I. Geography, populations, and physical habitat. Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club 116, 344–355.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cabello, M.L., Ruiz, T. and Devesa, J.A. (1998) Ensayos de germinación en endemismos ibéricos. Acta Botanica Malacitana 23, 59–69.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cerabolini, B., De Andreis, R., Ceriani, R.M., Pierce, S. and Raimondi, B. (2004) Seed germination and conservation of endangered species from the Italian Alps: Physoplexis comosa and Primula glaucescens. Biological Conservation 117, 351–356.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
DOCM (2002) Resolución de 10-09-2002 sobre la Declaración de Impacto Ambiental del proyecto denominado Parque Eólico Lanternoso (Villarrobledo-El Bonillo, Albacete). Diario Oficial de Castilla-La Mancha 143, 16671–16675.Google Scholar
Domínguez, F. (Ed.) (2000) Red List of Spanish Vascular Flora. Madrid, D.G.C.N., Ministerio de Medio Ambiente.Google Scholar
Escudero, A., Carnes, L.F. and Pérez-García, F. (1997) Seed germination of gypsophytes and gypsovags in semi-arid central Spain. Journal of Arid Environments 36, 487–497.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fried, G., Petit, S., Dessaint, F.andReboud, X. (2009) Arable weed decline in Northern France: crop edges as refugia for weed conservation? Biological Conservation 142, 238–243.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Galmés, J., Medrano, H. and Flexas, J. (2006) Germination capacity and temperature dependence in Mediterranean species of the Balearic Islands. Investigación Agraria: Sistemas y Recursos Forestales 15, 88–95.Google Scholar
Giménez-Benavides, L., Escudero, A. and Pérez-García, F. (2005) Seed germination of high mountain Mediterranean species: altitudinal, interpopulation and interannual variability. Ecological Research 20, 433–444.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gómez-Campo, C. and Herranz, J.M. (1993) Conservation of Iberian endemic plants: the botanical reserve of La Encantada (Villarrobledo, Albacete, Spain). Biological Conservation 64, 155–160.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Grime, J.P. (1979) Plant strategies and vegetation processes. Chichester, Wiley.Google Scholar
Gutterman, Y. (1994) Strategies of seed dispersal and germination in plants inhabiting deserts. Botanical Review 60, 373–425.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Herranz, J.M., Ferrandis, P., Copete, M.A. and Martínez-Sánchez, J.J. (2002) Influencia de la temperatura de incubación sobre la germinación de 23 endemismos vegetales ibéricos o iberoafricanos. Investigación Agraria. Producción y Protección Vegetal 17, 229–245.Google Scholar
Herranz, J.M., Ferrandis, P. and Copete, M.A. (2003) Influence of light and temperature on seed germination and ability of the endangered plant species Sisymbrium cavanillesianum to form persistent soil seed banks. Écoscience 10, 532–541.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Holt, J.S. (1988) Ecological and physiological characteristics of weeds. pp. 7–23in Altieri, M.A.; Liehman, M.Z. (Eds) Weed management in agroecosystems: ecological approaches. Boca Raton, FL, CRC Press.Google Scholar
Karssen, C.M. (1980/1981) Patterns of change in dormancy during burial of seeds in soil. Israel Journal of Botany 29, 65–73.Google Scholar
Khan, M.A. and Gulzar, S. (2003) Light, salinity, and temperature effects on the seed germination of perennial grasses. American Journal of Botany 90, 131–134.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lentz, K.A. and Johnson, H.A. (1998) Factors affecting germination of endangered northeastern bulrush, Scirpus ancistrochaetus Schuyler (Cyperaceae). Seed Science and Technology 26, 733–741.Google Scholar
Milberg, P., Andersson, L. and Thompson, K. (2000) Large-seeded species are less dependent on light for germination than small-seeded. Seed Science Research 10, 99–104.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Moreno, M. (1993) Iberis L. pp. 271–293in Castroviejo, S.et al. (Eds) Flora Iberica. Plantas vasculares de la Península Ibérica e Islas Baleares. Vol. IV. Madrid, Real Jardín Botánico, C.S.I.C.Google Scholar
Morgan, J.W. and Lunt, I.D. (1994) Germination characteristics of eight common grassland and woodland forbs. The Victorian Naturalist 111, 10–17.Google Scholar
Pavlovic, N.B. (1994) Disturbance-dependent persistence of rare plants: anthropogenic impacts and restoration implications. pp. 159–193in Bowles, M.L.; Whelan, C.J. (Eds) Restoration of endangered species: conceptual issues, planning and implementation. Cambridge, UK, Cambridge University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pérez-García, F., Iriondo, J.M., González-Benito, M.E., Carnes, L.F., Tapia, J., Prieto, C., Plaza, R. and Pérez, C. (1995) Germination studies in endemic plant species of the Iberian Peninsula. Israel Journal of Plant Sciences 43, 239–247.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Roberts, H.A. and Neilson, J.E. (1982 a) Seasonal changes in the temperature requirements for germination of buried seeds of Aphanes arvensis L. New Phytologist 92, 159–166.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Roberts, H.A. and Neilson, J.E. (1982 b) Role of temperature in the seasonal dormancy of seeds of Veronica hederifolia L. New Phytologist 90, 745–749.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sainz Ollero, H. and Hernández Bermejo, J.E. (1981) Síntesis corológica de las dicotiledóneas endémicas de la Península Ibérica e Islas Baleares. Madrid, I.N.I.A., Ministerio de Agricultura y Pesca.Google Scholar
Sainz Ollero, H., Franco, F. and Arias, J. (1996) Estrategias para la conservación de la flora amenazada de Aragón. Zaragoza, Consejo de Protección de la Naturaleza de Aragón.Google Scholar
Schütz, W., Milberg, P. and Lamont, B.B. (2002) Seed dormancy, after-ripening and light requirements of four annual Asteraceae in south-western Australia. Annals of Botany 90, 707–714.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Thanos, C.A., Georghiou, K., Douma, D.I. and Marangaki, C.J. (1991) Photo-inhibition of seed germination in Mediterranean maritime plants. Annals of Botany 68, 469–475.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Thompson, K., Bakker, J. and Bekker, R. (1997) The soil seed banks of north west Europe: methodology, density and longevity. Cambridge, UK, Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Vegis, A. (1964) Dormancy in higher plants. Annual Review Plant Physiology 15, 185–224.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Walker, K.J., Critchley, C.N.R., Sherwood, A.J., Large, R., Nuttall, P., Hulmes, S., Rose, R. and Mountford, J.O. (2007) The conservation of arable plants on cereal field margins: an assessment of new agri-environment scheme options in England, UK. Biological Conservation 136, 260–270.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Washitani, I., Takenaka, A., Uramoto, N. and Inoue, K. (1997) Aster kantoensis Kitam., an endangered flood plain endemic plant in Japan: its ability to form persistent soil seed banks. Biological Conservation 82, 67–72.CrossRefGoogle Scholar