Survival of Schismus arabicus seedlings exposed to desiccation depends on annual periodicity |
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Authors: | Yitzchak Gutterman Tanya Gendler Shimon Rachmilevitch |
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Institution: | (1) Jacob Blaustein Institute for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Sede Boker Campus, 84990 Midreshet Ben-Gurion, Israel; |
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Abstract: | Schismus arabicus, a desert annual grass, is one of the most common pasture annuals in the deserts of Israel and Asia. S. arabicus exhibits a unique set of adaptations and survival strategies, which enable it to germinate, develop and produce seeds even
in years with annual rainfall of less than 100 mm. The current study examined whether an annual rhythm exists in the survival
ability of S. arabicus seedlings exposed to desiccation. Our results indicate that survival of S. arabicus seedlings after six different periods of 7 to 42 days of desiccation depended on the month of germination of the caryopses
(seeds). Seed germination was 80–100% in all experiments, regardless the month of germination; however, seedlings that germinated
in different months varied in their root and shoot elongation rates. None of about 2,500 seedlings that germinated in July
(in each of the 4 years) survived the desiccation treatment. The percentages of surviving seedlings in each month of June
from 2002 to 2005 were less than 40%. In contrast, over 80% of the seedlings that germinated in each of the months of December
and January survived after the desiccation periods of 7–42 days. Seedlings that survived were transferred to 5 L soil pots
in which the seedlings developed into mature plants, completed their life cycle and produced seeds that germinated well. The
current study demonstrated a novel phenomenon indicating that seedling survival in plants may depend on an annual periodicity
according to the date of germination. |
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