Effects of bird ingestion on seed germination of two Prunus species with different fruit-ripening seasons

To evaluate the effects of ingestion by birds on seed germination under natural conditions, we carried out germination experiments in the field using seeds of two Prunus species that have different fruit-ripening seasons. Germination of seeds with the following three treatments was compared: ingested seeds, seeds excreted after feeding of fruits to birds; extracted seeds, seeds deliberately extracted from the fruit pulp; and intact fruit, seeds in untreated intact fruit. Many ingested and extracted seeds of both Prunus species germinated during the first spring, and the difference in germination percentage between ingested and extracted seeds was not significant. Many seeds in intact fruit of Prunus sargentii also germinated during the first spring, but those of Prunus ssiori did not germinate until the second spring. Pulp removal through bird ingestion enabled rapid germination for the autumn-fruiting P. ssiori, whose fruit pulp was not likely to be decomposed until the first spring. In contrast, the effects of ingestion were not striking for the summer-fruiting P. sargentii, whose fruit pulp is quickly decomposed.     

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.     

铜尾矿对5种豆科植物种子萌发和幼苗生长影响的初步研究

通过水培实验和土培实验,研究了铜陵铜尾矿对5种豆科植物种子萌发和幼苗生长的影响。结果表明,五种豆科植物种子在尾矿浸提液中均能萌发,但萌发率比对照组低,而且浸提液对种子萌发产生一定的阻滞作用,酸化尾矿浸提液对种子萌发初期的吸胀吸水有促进作用。尾矿与土壤5种不同改良方式的基质试验也发现铜尾矿对种子萌发着阻滞作用,其中大豆、赤豆、赤小豆在70d内未发现死苗现象。     

混合盐碱胁迫对芹菜种子萌发的影响

NaCl、Na2SO4、NaHCO3和Na2CO3按不同比例混合,模拟盐度和pH变化规律与天然盐碱地相似的15种盐碱条件,探讨混合盐碱胁迫对芹菜(Apium graveolens)种子萌发的影响.结果表明:芹菜种子的发芽率、发芽势、发芽指数和活力指数均随盐浓度的升高,pH的增大呈下降趋势.芹菜种子的萌发主要受盐浓度的影响,不同盐浓度间的影响差异大;当盐浓度为200 mmol/L时,基本不萌发.     

Effects of black howler monkey (Alouatta caraya) seed ingestion on insect larvae

Fig (Ficus monckii) and laurel (Ocotea puberula) seeds were obtained from Alouatta caraya feces (ingested seeds) and from trees (noningested) in northeastern Argentina. Seeds were examined to detect the presence (infested) or absence (noninfested) of larvae. Sixty percent (N = 315) of noningested fig seeds were galls with insect larvae inside, while 23% (N = 331) were encountered in the ingested group. Eighty-two percent (N = 28) of noningested laurel seeds were infested, and only 19% (N = 63) of ingested seeds were infested. According to the present data, the insects' larvae are digested by howlers intaking animal protein, but the laurel seeds were not destroyed. Am. J. Primatol. 45:411–415, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

盐分和水分胁迫对盐生植物灰绿藜种子萌发的影响

研究了不同浓度的NaCl和复合盐及等渗溶液(PEG-6000)处理下盐生植物灰绿藜(Chenopodium glaucum L.)种子的萌发状况.结果表明:灰绿藜种子的萌发率与处理溶液的浓度或渗透势之间有显著的负相关关系;在低浓度盐溶液(2.9 g*L-1)中灰绿藜种子的萌发率高于对照(蒸馏水);NaCl溶液对灰绿藜种子萌发的抑制作用大于复合盐溶液.渗透势为-0.2和-0.5 mPa 时,PEG-6000溶液对灰绿藜种子萌发的抑制作用小于等渗NaCl溶液,而在较高渗透势溶液中则正好相反.用渗透势≤-1.8 mPa 的PEG-6000溶液及所有浓度的NaCl和复合盐溶液处理的种子复水后相对萌发率都达到了90%以上,说明一定程度的盐分和水分胁迫对灰绿藜种子萌发潜力并没有很大的影响,并且萌发恢复率随处理盐浓度或PEG-6000溶液渗透势(≤-1.4 mPa)的增加而增加.     

Effects of thermoperiod on recovery of seed germination of halophytes from saline conditions

Recovery of seed germination from NaCl salinity of desert shrubs (Haloxylon recurvum and Suaeda fruticosa, and the herbs Zygophyllum simplex and Triglochin maritima was studied under various thermoperiods. The percentage of ungerminated seeds that recovered when they were transferred to distilled water varied significantly with variation in species and thermoperiods. Zygophyllum simplex had little recovery from all NaCl concentrations in all thermoperiods. Haloxylon recurvum, S. fruticosa, and T. maritima showed substantial recovery. Percentage recovery was highest in S. fruticosa, followed by T. maritima, and H. recurvum. Thermoperiodic effects varied with the species investigated. There was little thermoperodic effect on the percentage recovery of S. fruticosa, except in the higher salinity treatment at higher thermoperiods. Variation in thermoperiod appears to play an important role in recovery of germination of halophytes from salt stress when seeds are transferred to distilled water.     

Effects of three systemic insecticides on seed germination and growth ofPinus halepensis seedlings

Summary The systemic insecticides Acephate, Chlorpyrifos, and Oxamyl were variously toxic toPinus halepensis seeds and seedlings. When applied directly to seeds. Oxyamyl completely suppressed germination; Acetate and Chlorpyrifos greatly inhibited germination. The insecticides either prevented emergence or inhibited elongation of cotyledons and radicals. The insecticides were toxic to youngPinus halepensis seedlings whether applied to the soil or as shoot dips. Oxamyl was the most toxic of the three insecticidesResearch supported by the Council for International Exchange of Scholars and the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Wisonsin.     

光照对辽东栎种子萌发和幼苗生长的影响

研究了不同光照梯度[55.4%自然全光照(natural sunlight,NS)、18.9%NS、5.5%NS、2.2%NS、0.5%NS和0.3%NS]对辽东栎种子萌发和幼苗生长的影响.结果表明:辽东栎种子的萌发率和萌发指数在55.4%NS处理达到最大,分别为72.5%和0.22,然后随着光照减弱而逐渐减小,在0.3%NS处理下最小,分别为42.5%和0.11;强光照对种子萌发进程有一定的延迟作用,萌发活力指数随着光照的减弱而增大(0.5%NS处理最大);强光下种子萌发的延迟可能是其对多种命运的权衡性选择.强光照有利于辽东栎幼苗基径和根系生长,以及幼苗干物质的积累,但株高最小(6.06 cm);不同光强处理的辽东栎幼苗具有较大的形态学可塑性,其幼苗阶段对光环境的适应性较强,0.5%NS处理的幼苗比叶面积、比枝长、比根长、叶片叶绿素b含量及叶绿素总量均最大,分别为142.57 cm2.g-1、156.86 cm.g-1、271.87 cm.g-1、0.07 g.cm-2和0.24 g.cm-2,55.4%NS处理下最小,分别为44.89 cm2.g-1、52.84 cm.g-1、101.98 cm.g-1、...     

镧浸种对水稻种子萌发及幼苗生长的影响

以水稻种子为材料,研究了稀土元素镧对水稻种子活力和幼苗生长的影响。结果表明,1~20mg.L-1La3+处理能提高水稻种子的活力,提高蛋白酶、淀粉酶和脂肪酶的活性,并能促进水稻茎、叶和根系的生长,其中10mg.L-1La3+处理效果最佳。当浓度超过30mg.L-1时,水稻种子萌发和幼苗生长受到抑制。此外,镧对水稻植株地下部分(根系)生长的影响比地上部分(茎叶)生长的影响要明显。镧对水稻种子萌发期间3种酶活性的影响程度表现为蛋白酶>脂肪酶>淀粉酶。     

Allelopathic effect of Cistus ladanifer on seed germination

1. The allelopathic effect of the exudate secreted by Cistus ladanifer leaves was tested on different plant species. Cynodon dactylon and Rumex crispus , species absent from C. ladanifer scrub (jarales), were clearly inhibited by the exudate.
2. Species present in the jarales, Medicago polymorpha and Lolium rigidum , showed no direct inhibition of germination, but the process this was delayed, and cotyledon and root size was diminished. This implies inhibition of seedling growth, and may explain the low abundance of these species inside the jarales.
3. The active constituents in the inhibition of germination are low molecular weight phenolic compounds. The flavonoids appear to exert no direct effect on germination of the species tested, but do provoke a reduction in cotyledon and root size, and could thereby inhibit subsequent seedling development.     

酸雨胁迫条件下紫花苜蓿种子萌发和幼苗生理特性的变化

以紫花苜蓿种子皇冠（Phabulous）为材料,研究不同pH值的模拟酸雨对皇冠（Phabulous）种子萌发及幼苗生理特性的影响。分别测定了发芽率、发芽势、发芽指数、活力指数和种子脱氢酶含量、幼苗鲜重、幼苗干重、幼苗叶绿素含量、叶片导电率等指标。结果表明,种子的各项发芽指标及幼苗鲜重、脱氢酶活力、叶绿素含量等随酸雨pH值减小整体呈降低趋势,叶片浸泡液电导率则随酸雨pH值减小而呈增大趋势。     

Effect of lanthanum on aged seed germination of rice

Attempts were made to promote germination of natural aged rice seeds by treating them with lanthanum nitrate. In tests to measure the germination rate, germination index, and vigor index of natural aged rice seeds were found to be significantly increased by lanthanum. It is treating aged rice seed with lanthanum nitrate that enhanced the respiratory rate and activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and peroxidase, and decreased superoxide and malondidehyde contents, and therefore reduced plasma membrane permeability. It suggests that lanthanum may be used to pretreat seed before sowing.     

光质对杉木种子萌发及幼苗生长的影响

光是影响森林早期天然更新(种子萌发和幼苗生长)的重要因子之一.但光质对杉木(Cunninghamia lanceolata(Lamb.) Hook)早期更新的影响尚不清楚.为探讨光质对杉木种子萌发及幼苗生长的影响机制,以杉木种子为研究对象,通过设置8h白光(W)、8h红光(R)、6h红光-2 h远红光(R-FR)、4h红光-2 h远红光-2 h红光(R-FR-R)、黑暗(D,对照)5种不同光质处理,观察种子萌发及幼苗生长特征.结果表明,不同光质处理对杉木种子萌发影响显著,D和R-FR-R处理促进杉木种子萌发,R处理抑制种子萌发.最后一次照光选择红光处理(R和R-FR-R)能够显著促进杉木幼苗根和子叶的伸长,促进生物量积累以及增加叶生物量分配比例,但抑制茎的伸长,远红光处理则促进茎的生长.杉木种子为光不敏感种子,黑暗处理下萌发率最高,且远红光间断处理能够相对促进其萌发,说明杉木种子可以较好地适应异质光环境.     

Mathematical description of the seed germination dependency on time and temperature

Abstract. A mathematical model which describes the germination percentage dependency on time and temperature of a seed population was derived from the experimental results with a seed population of Amaranthus patulus Bertol. under sub-optimal temperature conditions (Washitani & Takenaka, 1984). The equation of the model which is a modified thermal time model is where G is germination percentage at a certain time after the start of imbibition ( t ) at a certain temperature ( T ), μ _{T 1} and σ _{T 1} are the mean and standard deviation of lower limit temperature among the seeds belonging to the seed population, and Tb, m , and A are the parameters characterizing the linear relationship between the rate and temperature, namely, Tb is the base temperature, m , the median of the required thermal time and A , a parameter determining the pattern of the variation of the required thermal time within seed population, respectively. The equation yields time courses for germination which are very similar to those observed by experiment.     

贮藏条件对河西走廊四种旱生灌木种子萌发的影响

不同贮藏条件下,探讨了河西走廊枸杞(Lycium barbarum)、黑果枸杞(L.rutheni-cum)、花棒(Hedysarum scorpaium)和泡果白刺(Nitraria sphaerocarpa)4种旱生灌木种子萌发情况。结果表明:枸杞、黑果枸杞和花棒种子萌发对贮藏条件有一致性的响应,即经过低温湿润(-5℃和4℃)贮藏后有较高的萌发率、较快的萌发速度和较早的萌发开始时间,贮藏条件对泡果白刺的种子萌发(<30%)的影响较小;冬季冷屋贮藏后(-5℃,湿润)的枸杞种子萌发率(68%)显著大于冰箱贮藏(4℃,湿润)和室温干燥贮藏(<20%);冰箱和冬季冷屋贮藏后黑果枸杞种子萌发率约80%,室温干燥贮藏后萌发率仅为5%;冰箱和冬季冷屋贮藏后的花棒种子萌发率达到88%和65%,干燥贮藏后为40%。低温层积(-5℃和4℃)是打破枸杞、花棒和黑果枸杞种子休眠的有效方法之一。     

冻融过程对荒漠短命植物种子萌发的影响

荒漠区冻融交替显著改变土壤温度和水分条件,并进一步影响荒漠植物种子萌发.为解析荒漠土壤冻融过程对植物种子萌发的影响,本研究以古尔班通古特沙漠4种典型短命植物[东方旱麦草(Eremopyrum orientale)、卵果鹤虱(Lappula patula)、尖喙拢牛儿苗(Erodiumoxyrrhychum)和条叶庭荠(...     

种子萌发的抑制调控机制

种子萌发是植物生命周期中一个重要的生理过程,激素作用、miRNA抑制、mRNA区域化、表观遗传调控等多个层次的分子抑制参与该过程的调控。赤霉素（解除抑制的激素）合成和失活的调控主要发生在转录水平,而脱落酸（引起抑制的激素）信号转导途径的调控则通过蛋白质抑制物的降解来实现。miRNA在转录后水平使其靶基因的mRNA降解,抑制种子的萌发;通过mRNA的区域化抑制与萌发相关基因的翻译属于另一层次的转录后抑制;小RNA介导的表观遗传机制也可能在种子萌发过程基因表达的协同调控中发挥重要作用。与分子水平的抑制类似,胚乳和种皮产生的机械抑制也很重要。