Physiological dormancy in seeds of tropical montane woody species in Hawai`i. Issue 1 (5th October 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Baskin, Carol C.; Baskin, Jerry M.; Yoshinaga, Alvin; Wolkis, Dustin
• Is Part Of: Plant species biology. Volume 36:Issue 1(2021)
• Page Start: 60
• Page End: 71
• Publication Date: 2020-10-05
• Subjects: conditional dormancy -- fully developed embryo -- non‐dormant seeds -- physiological dormancy -- tropical montane zone; Plants -- Evolution -- Periodicals; Plants -- Classification -- Periodicals; 581
• DOI: 10.1111/1442-1984.12295
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0913-557X

Abstract

Abstract: Worldwide, there is relatively little information on seed dormancy and germination of tropical montane species. Our aim was to help fill this knowledge gap by conducting seed dormancy/germination studies on woody species from this vegetation zone in Hawai`i. All species had water‐permeable seeds with a fully developed embryo. Seeds of 29 species (23 genera) were incubated in light/dark at 15/6, 20/10 and 25/15°C and germination monitored at 2‐week intervals for 16–128 weeks. Seeds of Chenopodium oahuense, Dubautia menziesii and Silene lanceolata were non‐dormant (ND) and those of 26 other species had physiological dormancy (PD); 10 of the 26 species had conditional PD. The optimum germination temperature regime(s) was (were) 25/15°C, 17 species; 25/10 and 20/10°C, 2; 20/10°C, 6; 20/10 and 15/6°C, 2; and 15/6°C, 2. Worldwide, PD in the woody genera included in our study is more common than ND. In addition to its contribution to the world biogeography of seed dormancy/germination, this study will be useful to conservation biologists who need to germinate seeds of tropical montane species. Abstract : Among 29 woody species with fully developed embryos from the tropical montane zone in Hawai`i, only three had non‐dormant seeds. The remaining species had physiological dormancy (PD), which was broken during warm stratification, with the time ranging from 6 to 128 weeks, depending on the species. The slow breaking of PD provides more than one opportunity for germination and seedling establishment to occur in the field.