Annual dormancy cycles in buried seeds of shrub species: germination ecology of Sideritis serrata (Labiatae). (28th January 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Copete, M. A.; Herranz, J. M.; Ferrandis, P.; Copete, E.; Bekker, R.
• Is Part Of: Plant biology. Volume 17:Number 4(2015:Jul.)
• Page Start: 798
• Page End: 807
• Publication Date: 2015-01-28
• Subjects: Botany -- Periodicals; Plants -- genetics -- Periodicals; Plants -- growth & development -- Periodicals; Plant Proteins -- Periodicals; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant -- Periodicals; Botanique -- Périodiques; 580
• DOI: 10.1111/plb.12306
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1435-8603

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="plb12306-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>The germination ecology of <italic>Sideritis serrata</italic> was investigated in order to improve <italic>ex‐situ</italic> propagation techniques and management of their habitat. Specifically, we analysed: (i) influence of temperature, light conditions and seed age on germination patterns; (ii) phenology of germination; (iii) germinative response of buried seeds to seasonal temperature changes; (iv) temperature requirements for induction and breaking of secondary dormancy; (v) ability to form persistent soil seed banks; and (vi) seed bank dynamics. Freshly matured seeds showed conditional physiological dormancy, germinating at low and cool temperatures but not at high ones (28/14 and 32/18 °C). Germination ability increased with time of dry storage, suggesting the existence of non‐deep physiological dormancy. Under unheated shade‐house conditions, germination was concentrated in the first autumn. <italic>S. serrata</italic> seeds buried and exposed to natural seasonal temperature variations in the shade‐house, exhibited an annual conditional dormancy/non‐dormancy cycle, coming out of conditional dormancy in summer and re‐entering it in winter. Non‐dormant seeds were clearly induced into dormancy when stratified at 5 or 15/4 °C for 8 weeks. Dormant seeds, stratified at 28/14 or 32/18 °C for 16 weeks, became non‐dormant if they were subsequently incubated over a temperature range from 15/4 to 32/18 °C. <italic>S. serrata</italic> is able to form small persistent soil seed banks. The maximum seed life span in the soil was 4 years, decreasing with burial depth. This is the second report of an annual conditional dormancy/non‐dormancy cycle in seeds of shrub species.</p> </abstract>