光和不同打破种子休眠方法对紫茎泽兰种子萌发及幼苗状态的影响

紫茎泽兰是著名的外来入侵植物,作为入侵的第一步,发芽及其幼苗生长应该与其强入侵能力有关.基于此,通过不同光照强度处理和不同打破休眠方法的双因素实验,旨在探讨紫茎泽兰种子是否具有需光萌发特性以及低温、水杨酸、聚乙二醇,硝酸钾等常规打破休眠方法和光照如何共同影响其萌发、幼苗生长等问题.结果表明:在全光照条件下,不同处理的紫茎泽兰种子的萌发率均大于63％,铝箔纸覆盖的遮光条件(0.23％光照)萌发率均大于60％,而在完全黑暗条件下,其萌发率较低(均小于30％),这表明紫茎泽兰种子具有需光萌发的特性.有别于以往对其它植物种子的报道,低温处理、水杨酸处理、聚乙二醇处理和硝酸钾处理不能代替光照打破种子休眠,显示紫茎泽兰种子可能处于一种强迫休眠状态(种子静态).全光照与水杨酸处理、PEG处理对幼苗生长具有交互影响:黑暗下水杨酸处理浓度与幼苗生物量成正相关(P＜0.05),但全光照和加铝箔下不相关(P＞0.05);全光照下PEG处理浓度与根长显著正相关(P＜0.05),而加铝箔和黑暗下不相关(P＞0.05).紫茎泽兰种子需光萌发特征及其幼苗生长特点是人为破坏表土壤、深层土壤种子库地表化导致快速入侵的基础.结果也为通过引入适宜树种造林来控制光照因子对紫茎泽兰进行生态控制提供了理论依据.     

Seed size and capitulum position drive germination and dormancy responses to projected warming for the threatened dune endemic Cirsium pitcheri (Asteraceae)

Among coastal plant species at risk from rapid environmental changes is the North American Great Lakes dune endemic Cirsium pitcheri. Despite being listed as federally threatened, little is known about how C. pitcheri seed attributes influence germination and dormancy‐break patterns in the context of climate change. Following a previous work where we found differences in the number and weight of C. pitcheri seeds among capitulum positions and study sites, here we examine the effects of seed attributes (capitulum position, seed weight, and site of origin) on the proportion and timing of C. pitcheri seed germination under temperature treatments that simulate projected warming in the Great Lakes (20/10, 25/10, and 30/10°C day/night). Our results demonstrate that C. pitcheri produces diverse cohorts of seeds with seed attributes that significantly influence the timing and probability of germination over a 3‐year soil seed bank. Cirsium pitcheri seed germination proportions were highest at 20°C and decreased successively at 25 and 30°C. Seeds from terminal capitula also had higher germination proportions and took longer to germinate than those from secondary capitula. Lastly, the effect of seed weight on germination probability depended on site of origin and capitulum position, with all effects varying in size and significance over time. Ultimately, our results highlight the considerable differences in germination patterns exhibited by seeds from different capitulum positions and sites of origin and provide insight into the dormancy‐break patterns that C. pitcheri might experience under predicted temperature rise in the Great Lakes region of North America.     

Assessment of heavy metal induced stress responses in pea (Pisum sativum L.)

Exposure of plants to heavy metals severely affects their growth and physiological processes. Nevertheless, different plants show variable responses to different heavy metals, generally in a concentration-dependent manner. In this study, phytotoxic effects of cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co) and lead (Pb) applied as chlorides at concentration 500, 750, 1000 and 1250 ppm were evaluated on seed germination, early seedling growth and dry biomass of pea (Pisum sativum L.). A lower concentration (500 ppm) of Pb promoted seed germination but declined other growth parameters. Higher concentration had a phytotoxic influence on the pea. Cd and Co severely affected germination and seedling growth of pea resulting in complete failure of germination and seedling growth at higher metal concentration. Tolerance index (TI) calculated for seed germination and dry biomass indicated that tested plant had zero tolerance to 1250 ppm of Cd as well as 750 ppm and higher concentrations of Co. The order of heavy metals for their phytotoxic effects was Co > Cd > Pb. The study suggests that P. sativum is relatively tolerant to Pb but highly sensitive to Co and Cd.     

Plastic responses that confer invasiveness to Rivina humilis L.

Rivina humilis L. (Petiveriaceae) is an invasive plant occurring throughout the tropics and subtropics. As successful plant invasion involves phenotypic plasticity; rapid seed germination and high competitiveness through the release of allelochemicals, the reasons behind the ability of R. humilis to establish and thrive under diverse environmental conditions were explored through series of experiments. The influence of different soil types (Alluvial, Alfisol, Vertisol and Laterite), pH (4–10) and nutrient concentrations (0–100%) on seed germination and seedling development of R. humilis were examined. The effect of aqueous leaf or fruit pulp extracts on seed germination and seedling development of different test plants was determined. The role of root endophytic fungi on plant growth was assessed by growing R. humilis in the presence and absence of fungi. Shade tolerance was investigated by growing R. humilis under different light intensities and measuring the photosynthetic rates. The results of the study indicate that R. humilis was able to grow in different soil types and pH levels. As the fruit pulp fails to affect seed germination or development of test plants (finger millet, green gram, brinjal, maize) increasing concentrations of leaf extract negatively influenced these processes. Seed germination of R. humilis decreased at the highest alkaline pH 10 and increasing light intensity negatively affects the leaf chlorophyll content, photosynthetic rate and plant growth. The stomatal conductivity and transpiration rate of plants are not consistent under varying light intensities. R. humilis is not mycorrhizal dependent. These results suggest that R. humilis possess a wide range of plastic responses to different environmental conditions that could significantly contribute to the success in invading new habitats.     

Differential Activity of Striga hermonthica Seed Germination Stimulants and Gigaspora rosea Hyphal Branching Factors in Rice and Their Contribution to Underground Communication

Strigolactones (SLs) trigger germination of parasitic plant seeds and hyphal branching of symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. There is extensive structural variation in SLs and plants usually produce blends of different SLs. The structural variation among natural SLs has been shown to impact their biological activity as hyphal branching and parasitic plant seed germination stimulants. In this study, rice root exudates were fractioned by HPLC. The resulting fractions were analyzed by MRM-LC-MS to investigate the presence of SLs and tested using bioassays to assess their Striga hermonthica seed germination and Gigaspora rosea hyphal branching stimulatory activities. A substantial number of active fractions were revealed often with very different effect on seed germination and hyphal branching. Fractions containing (−)−orobanchol and ent-2''-epi-5-deoxystrigol contributed little to the induction of S. hermonthica seed germination but strongly stimulated AM fungal hyphal branching. Three SLs in one fraction, putative methoxy-5-deoxystrigol isomers, had moderate seed germination and hyphal branching inducing activity. Two fractions contained strong germination stimulants but displayed only modest hyphal branching activity. We provide evidence that these stimulants are likely SLs although no SL-representative masses could be detected using MRM-LC-MS. Our results show that seed germination and hyphal branching are induced to very different extents by the various SLs (or other stimulants) present in rice root exudates. We propose that the development of rice varieties with different SL composition is a promising strategy to reduce parasitic plant infestation while maintaining symbiosis with AM fungi.     

Sorption and ecotoxicity of pentachlorophenol polluted sediment amended with rice-straw derived biochar

To investigate the feasibility of using biochar to control organic pollutants in sediments, we extracted biochar from rice-straw combustion residues (RBC) and studied its adsorption ability and effect on seed germination ecotoxicity of pentachlorophenol (PCP). The results showed that the Freundlich and dual-mode models could describe all the sorption isotherm data well, and the log K_OC values increased with increasing RBC content. With 50 mg kg⁻¹ PCP in the sediment, a significant seed growth inhibition (P < 0.01) was observed. The addition of 2.0% RBC lowered the PCP concentration in the extraction liquid from 4.53 to 0.17 mg L⁻¹ and increased the germination rate and root length significantly. Furthermore, it was found that the addition of RBC had no toxic but stimulative effect on root elongation. Consequently, RBC could serve as a potential supersorbent for the remediation of organic pollution in situ.     

感染内生真菌的羊草对克氏针茅种子萌发的影响

以我国内蒙古草原常见优势种羊草（Leymus chinensis（Trin.) Tzvel.）及克氏针茅（Stipa krylovii Roshev.）为实验材料,在离体器官和整株植物水平上探讨内生真菌感染是否会影响宿主植物羊草对克氏针茅种子萌发的作用。实验结果表明：内生真菌感染能够影响羊草对克氏针茅种子萌发的作用,其影响程度与羊草的作用部位、处理方法以及处理浓度相关。与未染菌羊草相比,染菌羊草绿叶在低浓度处理下显著促进了克氏针茅的萌发,高浓度下显著抑制了克氏针茅的幼根生长;染菌羊草枯叶显著抑制了克氏针茅幼根的生长,而染菌羊草地下部显著促进了克氏针茅的萌发;感染和不感染内生真菌的整株羊草对克氏针茅的发芽率和发芽速度无显著影响。在处理浓度相同的情况下,草粉对克氏针茅种子萌发的抑制作用比浸提液处理更为显著,绿叶比枯叶抑制作用更为显著。     

Effects of Temperature on Germination in Populations of Dactylis glomerata from NW Spain and Central Italy

A study of the germination requirements of local populationsof Dactylis glomerata from NW Spain and central Italy showedthat, with the exception of one ecotype from central Italy,there was a positive germination response to alternating temperatures.With five bred varieties from the Welsh Plant Breeding Station,Aberystwyth there was no such response and constant temperatureswere as effective as alternating temperatures. A low temperaturetreatment (2 C) before germination at constant temperatures,also increased germination of the Spanish and Italian populationswith the exception of the ecotype from central Italy. Increasingair temperature from 15 C to 25 C during seed developmentincreased subsequent germination at constant and alternatingtemperatures. The relationship between the mean July temperatureand the germination of seven stocks of a diploid cocksfoot fromNW Spain suggested that, under field conditions also, air temperatureat the time of seed development is an important factor determiningseed germination. Temperature, germination, Dactylis glomerata     

OsLOX2, a rice type I lipoxygenase,confers opposite effects on seed germination and longevity

Rice production and seed storage are confronted with grain deterioration and loss of seed viability. Some members of the lipoxygenase (LOX) family function in degradation of storage lipids during the seed germination, but little is known about their influence on seed longevity during storage. We characterized the role of rice OsLOX2 gene in seed germination and longevity via over-expression and knock-down approaches. Abundant expression of OsLOX2 was detected in panicles, roots, and stems, but not in leaves. Moreover, OsLOX2 was highly induced during germination. OsLOX2 protein, located in the cytoplasm, showed a wide range of temperature adaptation (20–50 °C) and a substrate preference to linoleic acid. Lines over-expressing OsLOX2 showed accelerated seed germination under normal condition and lower seed viability after accelerated aging. RNA interference (RNAi) of OsLOX2 caused delayed germination and enhanced seed longevity. RNAi lines with strongly repressed OsLOX2 activity completely lost the capability of germination after accelerated aging. More lipid hydroperoxide were found in OE15 than the control, but less in RNAi lines than in the WT Nipponbare. Therefore, OsLOX2 acts in opposite directions during seed germination and longevity during storage. Appropriate repression of the OsLOX2 gene may delay the aging process during the storage without compromising germination under normal conditions.     

光质、光强对入侵植物紫茎泽兰种子萌发及幼苗状态的影响

为了探讨紫茎泽兰种子需光萌发特性,对光质（不同颜色、红光/远红光）和光强对种子萌发率及幼苗状态进行了研究。研究发现：不同颜色光对发芽率影响显著,其中黄光、橙光和红光等波长在（591~750 nm）之间的光更有利于提高种子的萌发率（74.3%~83.3%）,而较短波长的光（<570 nm,紫光、蓝光和绿光）促进效果显著降低（62.3%~66.7%）（p<0.05）。光强对紫茎泽兰种子发芽和幼苗影响较光的颜色更具有规律性。黑暗条件下发芽率22%,随着光照提高,发芽率指数增加(r²=0.96),芽长指数下降(r²=0.99)、根长指数增加(r²=0.98),而鲜重呈现线性增加(r²=0.70)。适量红光（630 nm）和远红光（730 nm）照射能够打破和引起休眠,红光照射量与发芽率提高量成线性正相关（r²=0.98）,而远红光照射率与发芽率降低量呈线性正相关（r²=0.92）,说明紫茎泽兰需光萌发是一个光敏色素引起的过程。紫茎泽兰通常在裸地和人为干扰土壤上泛滥,这可能与其种子需光萌发有关。而对其生态学控制可以考虑从光强、特别是光质角度（如人工造林）控制种子萌发来实现。     

Pregnancy coloration in macaques may act as a warning signal to reduce antagonism by conspecifics

Co-varying traits in acorns such as seed size and germination schedule are important to influence the behavioural decisions of hoarding rodents. Using acorn pairs from cork oak (Quercus variabilis) (large size and short germination schedules) serrate oak (Q. serrata) (small size and short germination schedule) and qinggang (Cyclobalanopsis glauca) (small size and long germination schedule) with contrasting seed size and germination schedule, we conducted a series of experiments to investigate hoarding preferences in response to seed size and germination schedule by Edward's long-tailed rats (Leopoldamys edwardsi) and South China field mice (Apodemus draco) in semi-natural enclosures. We found that the seed size hypothesis was consistently supported: both rodent species ate more small acorns but hoarded more large ones regardless of germination schedules. However, the germination schedule hypothesis was also supported when similar sized acorns were simultaneously provided, e.g. Q. serrata versus C. glauca or germinating versus non-germinating Q. variabilis. Our results, contrary to the studies from North America, indicate that seed size is more important than germination schedules in determining whether the tested animals eat or hoard a given seed.     

Water Relations of Seed Development and Germination in Muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.) : III. Sensitivity of Germination to Water Potential and Abscisic Acid during Development

Muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.) seeds are germinable 15 to 20 days before fruit maturity and are held at relatively high water content within the fruit, yet little precocious germination is observed. To investigate two possible factors preventing precocious germination, the inhibitory effects of abscisic acid and osmoticum on muskmelon seed germination were determined throughout development. Seeds were harvested at 5-day intervals from 30 to 65 days after anthesis (DAA) and incubated either fresh or after drying on factorial combinations of 0, 1, 3.3, 10, or 33 micromolar abscisic acid (ABA) and 0, −0.2, −0.4, −0.6, or −0.8 megapascals polyethylene glycol 8000 solutions at 30°C. Radicle emergence was scored at 12-hour intervals for 10 days. In the absence of ABA, the water potential (Ψ) required to inhibit fresh seed germination by 50% decreased from −0.3 to −0.8 megapascals between 30 and 60 DAA. The Ψ inside developing fruits was from 0.4 to 1.4 megapascals lower than that required for germination at all stages of development, indicating that the fruit Ψ is sufficiently low to prevent precocious germination. At 0 megapascal, the ABA concentration required to inhibit germination by 50% was approximately 10 micromolar up to 50 DAA and increased to >33 micromolar thereafter. Dehydration improved subsequent germination of immature seeds in ABA or low Ψ. There was a linear additive interaction between ABA and Ψ such that 10 micromolar ABA or −0.5 megapascal osmotic potential resulted in equivalent, and additive, reductions in germination rate and percentage of mature seeds. Abscisic acid had no effect on embryo solute potential or water content, but increased the apparent minimum turgor required for germination. ABA and osmoticum appear to influence germination rates and percentages by reducing the embryo growth potential (turgor in excess of a minimum threshold turgor) but via different mechanisms. Abscisic acid apparently increases the minimum turgor threshold, while low Ψ reduces turgor by reducing seed water content.     

Regiospecificity of Chlorophenol Reductive Dechlorination by Vitamin B12s

Vitamin B₁₂, reduced by titanium (III) citrate to vitamin B_12s, catalyzes the reductive dechlorination of chlorophenols. Reductive dechlorination of pentachlorophenol and of all tetrachlorophenol and trichlorophenol isomers was observed. Reaction of various chlorophenols with vitamin B₁₂ favored reductive dechlorination at positions adjacent to another chlorinated carbon, but chlorines ortho to the hydroxyl group of a phenol were particularly resistant to reductive dechlorination, even if they were also ortho to a chlorine. This resulted in a reductive dechlorination pattern favoring removal of para and meta chlorines, which differs substantially from the pattern exhibited by anaerobic microbial consortia.     

等渗的盐分和水分胁迫对杠柳种子萌发的影响

通过等渗的NaCl和PEG溶液模拟盐分和水分胁迫,设置渗透梯度,在控制条件下对杠柳种子的萌发过程中总萌发率、幼苗鲜重、胚根生长、种子活力、发芽值等指标系统研究,对种子萌发率与渗透势之间关系进行回归分析,主要结果包括：（1）杠柳种子萌发过程中总萌发率、幼苗鲜重、活力指数和发芽值四项指标均随NaCl和PEG溶液的渗透势降低逐渐下降,综合研究活力指数和发芽值表明渗透势≥-0.5 MPa和≤-1.4 MPa时,PEG对种子萌发抑制作用大于NaCl,其他情况相反;（2）杠柳种子逐日萌发率和胚根日变化研究表明,与NaCl相比,PEG推迟杠柳种子萌发,并且对胚根增长抑制作用较大;（3）建立盐分和水分胁迫条件下种子萌发率与渗透势回归方程,发现杠柳种子在PEG胁迫下的萌发临界值和极限值为-1.0和-1.4 MPa,在NaCl胁迫下是-0.9和-1.3 MPa,解除胁迫条件,不同处理的杠柳种子复水萌发率均达到100%。说明杠柳具有良好的耐盐抗旱的特性。     

Variation in mycorrhizal performance in the epiphytic orchid <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tolumnia variegata in vitro</Emphasis>: the potential for natural selection

Symbiotic seed germination is a critical stage in orchid life histories. Natural selection may act to favor plants that efficiently use mycorrhizal fungi. However, the necessary conditions for natural selection – variation, heritability, and differences in fitness – have not been demonstrated for either orchid or fungus. With the epiphytic orchid Tolumnia variegata as a model system, we ask the following questions: (1) Do seeds from different individuals in a population differ in germination and seedling development in the presence of the same fungi? (2) Do different mycorrhizal fungi (Ceratobasidium spp.) differ in ability to stimulate seed germination and growth in T. variegata? And (3) are the Ceratobasidium isolates that best induce seed germination and seedling development more closely related to each other than to isolates that are less effective? We performed symbiotic seed germination experiments in vitro. The experiments were done using mycorrhizal fungi isolated from T. variegata; relationships among the fungi were inferred from nuclear ribosomal ITS sequences. We found significant variation for both symbiotic germination and seedling growth among biparental seed crops obtained from a population of T. variegata plants. Differences among Ceratobasidium fungi in seed germination were significant. The fungi that induced highest seed germination and seedling development belonged to two of four clades of Ceratobasidium. The two experiments show that there is potential for natural selection to act on orchid–fungus relationships. Given that orchids vary in performance, and that mycorrhizal fungi are not geographically distributed homogeneously, mycorrhizae may affect population size, distribution and evolution of orchids.     

Effect of seed passage through vertebrate frugivores'' guts on germination: a review

The capacity of seeds to germinate after ingestion by frugivores is important for the population dynamics of some plant species and significant for the evolution of plant-frugivore interactions. In this paper the effects of different vertebrates on seed germination of nearly 200 plant species are reviewed, searching for patterns that predict the circumstances in which germination of seeds is enhanced, inhibited, or unaffected by the passage through the digestive tract of a seed disperser. It was found that seed dispersers commonly have an effect on the germinability of seeds, or on the rate of germination, or both, in about 50% of the plants they consume, although the diversity of animal species tested so far is still rather low (42 bird species, 28 non-flying mammals, 10–15 bats, 12 reptiles, 2 fishes). Enhancement of germination occurred about twice as often as inhibition.

In spite of the morphological and physiological differences in their digestive tracts, the different animal groups tested have similar effects on seed germination, although non-flying mammals tend to influence germination slightly more often than the other groups. Data on fishes are still too scarce for any generalization. Seed retention time in the dispersers' digestive tract is one factor affecting germination, and helps to explain the variation in seed responses observed among plant species, and even within a species. However other factors are also important; for example, the type of food ingested along with the fruits may affect germination through its influence on chemical or mechanical abrasion of the seed coat. Seed traits such as coat structure or thickness may themselves be responsible for some of the variation in seed retention times. Seeds of different sizes, which usually have different transit times through frugivores, and seeds of either fleshy or dry fruits, show often similar germination response to gut passage.

Seeds of different plants species differ strongly in their germination response after ingestion, even by the same frugivore species. Congeneric plants often show little consistency in their response. Even within a species variation is found which can be related to factors such as the environmental conditions under which germination takes place, seed morphology, seed age, and the season when the seeds are produced.

The effect of gut passage on germination differs between tropical and temperate zones. Seed germination of both shrubs and trees (data on herbaceous species are still scarce) in the temperate zone is more frequently enhanced than in the tropics. This result supports the hypothesis that enhanced germination may be more advantageous in unpredictable or less constant environments. Significant differences in frugivore-mediated germination are also found among different life forms. In both tropical and temperate zones, trees appear to be consistently more affected than shrubs or herbs. This might be due to an overall higher thickness of the seed coats, or to a higher frequency of seed-coat dormancy in tree species.

The influence of frugivory upon the population dynamics of a species has to be evaluated relative to other factors that influence germination and seedling recruitment at a particular site. Whether seed ingestion by dispersers is really advantageous to a plant (as has commonly been assumed) can only be assessed if we also determine the fate of the ingested seeds under natural conditions, and compare it to the fate of seeds that have not been ingested.     

Atmospheric condition controlling the seed germination of an achlorophyllous orchid,Galeola septentrionalis

The aseptic seed germination ofGaleola septentrionalis was observed only in an airtight vessel at 30 C, germination being enhanced with increasing air pressure in the vessel up to the optimum of 1.8 atm. The presence of O₂ and CO₂ was essential for germination, and their optimum concentrations were 5 and 8%, respectively. The optimum pressure for germination (1.8 atm) was not influence by the composition of the air. Ethylene added at concentrations ranging from 2 to 8μl/l enhanced germination and its removal reduced the germination. The atmospheric condition required for the seed germination of this orchidin vitro was discussed with regard to that in its natural habitat.     

Differential germination behaviour in seeds of the Indian arid zone

Seed germination studies of a number of Indian arid zone species were conducted and the seeds were classified into groups on the basis of germination behaviour. Results of seed germination were also compared with those of old seed collections. Most of the seeds studied showed some form of dormancy, the hard seed coatedness being the most common. InBorreria articularis, germination inhibitors were found. Seeds of different years required different duration of acid scarification for maximum germination and these differences have been attributed to rainfall and other such environmental conditions in those years.     

Effects of germination time on seed morph ratio in a seed-dimorphic species and possible ecological significance

Background and Aims Diaspores of heteromorphic species may germinate at different times due to distinct dormancy-breaking and germination requirements, and this difference can influence life history traits. The primary aim of this study was to determine the effect of germination time of the two seed morphs of Suaeda corniculata subsp. mongolica on life history traits of the offspring.Methods Germinated brown and black seeds were sown on the 20th of each month from April to September in a simulated but near-natural habitat of the species. Phenological and vegetative traits of the maternal plants, and number, size and germination percentage of the offspring were determined.Key Results Germinated seeds sown late in the year produced smaller plants that had a higher proportion of non-dormant brown than dormant black seeds, and these brown seeds were larger than those produced by germinated seeds sown early in the year. The length of the seedling stage for brown seeds was shorter than that for black seeds, and the root/shoot ratio and reproductive allocation of plants from brown seeds were more variable than they were for plants from black seeds. Late-germinating brown seeds produced larger plants than late-germinating black seeds.Conclusions Altering the proportion of the two seed types in response to germination timing can help alleviate the adverse effects of delayed germination. The flexible strategy of a species, such as S. corniculata, that produces different proportions of dimorphic seeds in response to variation in germination timing may favour the maintenance and regeneration of the population in its unpredictable environment.     

Frugivory and the effects of ingestion by bats on the seed germination of three pioneering plants

The dispersion and seedling establishment of pioneering plants can be favoured by the presence of frugivorous bats because the bats usually improve seed germination after ingestion. Although seed germinability is known to vary greatly after ingestion by different bats, the relative contribution of each bat species to seed germination within plant communities is poorly understood. In this study, we first determined the fauna of frugivorous bats in a semideciduous seasonal forest remnant in southern Brazil and subsequently identified the plant species of the seeds passed through their guts. Second, the germination performance (i.e., germination percentage and speed) of the seeds of three pioneering plants (Piper aduncum, Piper hispidinervum and Solanum granuloso-leprosum) ingested by the most abundant bats was compared with that of the non-ingested seeds (seeds collected from fruits). Additionally, the effects on seed germination of different bat species were compared. During one year, five species of frugivorous bats were caught, and the seeds of eleven identifiable plant species (not counting those of undetermined species) were found in their faeces. We found that the germination performance of the seeds of Piper species was significantly enhanced after ingestion by bats, whereas S. granuloso-leprosum seeds had neutral or reduced germinability when seeds in faeces were compared with pulp-removed seeds. Our results revealed that the bat species that were captured exerted different effects upon seed germination; such a disparity is expected to result in different rates of early establishment of these pioneer plants in tropical forests, most likely affecting forest composition and structure, particularly during the initial stages of succession.