Seed germination of endemic species from Kerguelen phytogeographic zone

 Seeds of six endemic species and two circumpolar species were collected from several sites on Kerguelen and tested for germination between 5 and 25°C on thermogradient bars. Pringlea antiscorbutica and Colobanthus kerguelensis had a near 100% viability with an initial germination temperature of ca. 24°C. Colobanthus attained nearly 100% viability from 5 to 25°C whereas Pringlea germination declined markedly below 20°C. In Poa kerguelensis and P. cookii germination was poor and varied between sites. The three Ranunculus spp. showed various degrees of dormancy. In Lyallia kerguelensis, although the seed appeared mature, a variety of treatments could only partly release an apparently deep dormancy. These data are discussed with respect to field observations on reproduction from seed. Received: 1 February 1996/Accepted; 28 April 1996     

豚草和三裂叶豚草不同植株部位种子萌发与入侵扩散关系

豚草(Ambrosia artemisiifoliaLinn.)和三裂叶豚草(A. trifidaLinn.)是我国恶性入侵物种,分布常呈高密度单一种群,且结实量庞大。探讨二者不同植株部位种子萌发(休眠)与扩散特点,对了解二者入侵机制具有重要意义。以新疆伊犁新源县发生的豚草和三裂叶豚草为材料,在种子成熟期,根据植株高度、枝条长度,按比例从上到下分为9个部位,对不同植株部位种子的形态特征、数量和萌发特性进行比较,分析这两种植物不同植株部位种子萌发与扩散的共性和差异性,研究二者种群密度调节和入侵的关系。结果表明:1)两个物种内不同植株部位间种子的长、宽、百粒重无显著差异,但三裂叶豚草种子的长度和宽度分别是豚草的2—3倍,百粒重高7倍。结合两个物种在伊犁地区分布差异,认为种子大小是两个物种分布区域性差异的原因之一。2)豚草和三裂叶豚草植株外部的上顶、中顶、上中部位种子数占植株总种子数量的50%,中中、下顶占比约23%,而下部的上基、中基、下中、下基的种子数占比约27%,表明当年生产的种子有近73%的比例具有远距离扩散的潜力。3)豚草和三裂叶豚草不同植株部位种子的萌发率具有上端中端下端的趋势;初始萌发时间为下端中端上端;萌发持续时间为上端中端下端。这种萌发方式避免了同一生长季大批种子同时萌发有可能导致高密度死亡的风险。基于上述研究分析,认为豚草和三裂叶豚草不同植株部位种子具有不同的适应功能。其中,上部所产生的种子具较强的扩散能力和低休眠性,有利于两物种快速占据新生境并扩大种群;而中、下部位的种子在母株周围就近扩散,翌年萌发率低,缓解了种群竞争。豚草和三裂叶豚草不同植株部位生产的种子特性和萌发差异是两个物种进行种群密度调节和扩散入侵的重要原因。     

Effects of temperature, light, nitrate and pre chilling on seed germination of grassland plants

The effects of factorial combinations of alternating (20/10 ^oC) and constant temperature (20 ^oC), of light (intermittent) and dark, and of distilled water and nitrate on the germination of a range of species of indigenous grassland were investigated in 1979, and in 1980 when the effects of pre-chilling were also studied. Species differed greatly in their response to the eight sets of environmental conditions in 1979. With the exception of Lolium perenne ssp. perenne and Cynosurus cristatus, only a small percentage of seeds of most species was able to germinate in constant temperature in the dark. However, when light was supplied there was moderate germination of Anthoxanthum odoratum, Cerastium fontanum ssp. glabrescens, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus and Poa trivialis. Alternating temperature greatly increased the germination of most species and nitrate further increased germination of Agrostis capillaris, Deschampsia caespitosa, H. lanatus, Poa annua and P. trivialis. In alternating temperatures, light increased germination of these species even more than did nitrate. A. capillaris, D. caespitosa and P. annua required all three factors for maximum germination, and another 7% of seeds of A. capillaris also required gibberellic acid. Germination responses following sequential application of factors often differed from those resulting from simultaneous treatment: in particular, the germination of Ranunculus species was greatly enhanced. Although seeds of the species tested in 1980 were more germinable than those of the same species in 1979, they responded similarly to the different factors. Light increased the germination of both Taraxacum officinale and Plantago lanceolata in constant but not in alternating temperature, while nitrate was much more stimulatory to the latter species. About half the seeds of P. lanceolata were dormant. Pre-chilling at 4^oC for 7 days increased subsequent germination of all species when followed by constant temperature, except of A. capillaris in the dark and C. cristatus (already maximal) in the light. When followed by alternating temperature in the dark, pre-chilling greatly decreased germination of A. capillaris. In the light, where germination of most species was maximal, there was little effect of pre-chilling. Longer durations (21 and 42 days) of chilling of older seed gave similar results to the 7 day pre-chilling.     

Predicted global warming scenarios impact on the mother plant to alter seed dormancy and germination behaviour in Arabidopsis

Abstract Seed characteristics are key components of plant fitness that are influenced by temperature in their maternal environment, and temperature will change with global warming. To study the effect of such temperature changes, Arabidopsis thaliana plants were grown to produce seeds along a uniquely designed polyethylene tunnel having a thermal gradient reflecting local global warming predictions. Plants therefore experienced the same variations in temperature and light conditions but different mean temperatures. A range of seed‐related plant fitness estimates were measured. There were dramatic non‐linear temperature effects on the germination behaviour in two contrasting ecotypes. Maternal temperatures lower than 15–16 °C resulted in significantly greater primary dormancy. In addition, the impact of nitrate in the growing media on dormancy was shown only by seeds produced below 15–16 °C. However, there were no consistent effects on seed yield, number, or size. Effects on germination behaviour were shown to be a species characteristic responding to temperature and not time of year. Elevating temperature above this critical value during seed development has the potential to dramatically alter the timing of subsequent seed germination and the proportion entering the soil seed bank. This has potential consequences for the whole plant life cycle and species fitness.     

Première contribution à l'étude des mycorhizes des îles Kerguelen

Until recently mycorrhizae had not been studied in the Antarctic region. Some studies have demonstrated that mycorrhizae occur in some southern circumpolar islands. This paper gives the first results on the mycorrhizae in the Kerguelen islands (Sub-antarctic). Twenty-one plant root systems, fixed in the field, were examined microscopically in the laboratory to determine their mycorrhizal status. No ectomycorrhiza, arbutoid or ericoid were noted. Six plant species showed vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizae: Ranunculus biternatus, Galium antarcticum, Festuca erecta, Poa kerguelensis, Agrostis magellanica and Poa annua. However, the mycorrhizal status varied according to the site studied.     

Seed production and germination in two rare and three common co‐occurring Acacia species from south‐east Australia

Abstract Seed set, size, viability and germination requirements were investigated for two rare (Acacia ausfeldii and A. willianisonii) and three common (A. pycnantha, A. genistifolia and A.paradoxa) co‐occurring congeners in box‐ironbark eucalypt forests near Bendigo, south‐east Australia to investigate correlates of rarity. Seed size was significantly smaller for the two rare species and germinants were less able to emerge from deeper sowing depths than were the larger seeded common congeners. All species had a strong heat‐stimulated germination response. While the rare A. ausfeldii showed strong germination only at the highest temperature treatment (100°C), the common and widespread A.pycnantha showed strong germination across a broad range of temperatures (60‐100°C), likely to be experienced by soil‐stored seeds during a fire. Seed viability, number of seeds per plant, and number of firm, aborted and eaten seeds per pod varied between species, but the pattern of variation was not related to rarity. Small seed size and a very specific temperature requirement for germination may help to explain rarity in A. ausfeldii, and to a lesser extent in A. willianisonii. Fires are often patchy and heating of the soil is likely to be highly spatially variable, so species with germination responses to a broad range of temperatures have an advantage over those that respond only to a narrow range. A narrower range of soil depths from which seeds can emerge will further reduce the proportion of the seed bank that might recruit following fire. Human impacts on species habitats, such as fragmentation, loss of topsoil through mining, timber harvesting, grazing and urbanization, and consequent reduction in fire intensity, are likely to have further contributed to rarity in these species. The role of pollination and other factors in relation to population size is the subject of further investigation.     

Effect of Temperatures on Dormancy and Germination in Three Species in the Lamiaceae Occurring in Northern Wetlands

In the temperate region temperature is the main factor influencing the germination period of plant species. The purpose of this study was to examine effects of constant and fluctuating temperatures on dormancy and germination under laboratory and field conditions in the three wetland species Lycopus europaeus, Mentha aquatica and Stachys palustris. The results should give indications if the temperature-dependent regulation of dormancy and germination is phylogenetically constrained. Tests for germination requirements showed a minimum temperature for germination of 9 °C in Mentha and 12 °C in Lycopus and Stachys, and a maximum temperature of 33 °C for Lycopus and 36 °C for Mentha and Stachys. Fluctuating temperatures promoted germination in all three species but the amplitude required for high germination (>50%) differed: it was 8 °C in Mentha, 10 °C in Stachys and 14 °C in Lycopus (mean temperature 22 °C). The effect of temperatures on the level of dormancy was examined in the laboratory by imbibing seeds at temperatures between 3 °C and 18 °C for periods between 2 and 28 weeks, as well as by a 30-month burial period, followed by germination tests at various temperatures, in light and darkness. In the laboratory only low temperatures (≤12 °C) relieved primary dormancy in seeds of Lycopus, while in Mentha and Stachys also higher temperatures lead to an increase of germination. Dormancy was only induced in Lycopus seeds after prolonged imbibition at 12 °C in the laboratory. Buried seeds of all species exhibited annual dormancy cycles with lower germination in summer and higher germination from autumn to spring. Exhumed seeds, however, showed considerable differences in periods of germination success. Dormancy was relieved when ambient temperatures were below 12 °C. Ambient temperatures that caused an induction of dormancy varied depending on species and test condition, but even low temperatures (8 °C) were effective. At high test temperatures (25 °C) in light, exhumed seeds of all three species showed high germination throughout the year. The three species showed various differences in the effects of temperatures on dormancy and germination. Similarities in dormancy and germination found among the species are in common with other spring-germinating species occurring in wetlands, so it seems that the temperature dependent regulation of dormancy and germination are related to habitat and not to phylogenetic relatedness.     

The effect of earthworms and snails in a simple plant community

Snails and earthworms affected the dynamics of a simple, three-species plant community, in the Ecotron controlled environment facility. Earthworms enhanced the establishment, growth and cover of the legume Trifolium dubium, both via the soil and interactions with other plant species. Worms increased soil phosphates, increased root nodulation in T. dubium, and enabled T. dubium seedlings to establish in the presence of grass (Poa annua) litter, by increasing soil heterogeneity. Worms also buried the seeds of Poa annua and Senecio vulgaris, reducing the germination of new seedlings. Snails reduced nitrogen-fixing Trifolium dubium and increased cover of plant litter, thereby reducing ammonia-nitrogen concentrations in the soil. These effects and their interactions demonstrate that the detritivore food chain, and earthworms in particular, cannot be ignored if we are to understand the spatial and temporal dynamics of plant communities.     

Desiccation,Moisture Content and Germination of Zostera marina L. Seed

Zostera marina is the only seagrass species whose seeds have been successfully used in large‐scale restoration. Although progress has been made in refining Z. marina restoration protocols, additional information on Z. marina seed physiology is necessary as the science of seagrass restoration evolves. We tested the germination rates of Z. marina seeds under different relative humidities and temperatures for different periods of time. Z. marina seed moisture content (MC) and germination rates were also tested when seeds were exposed to a temperature of 25°C and relative humidity of 50%. Z. marina seeds suffered higher mortality when exposed to lower relative humidity and higher temperature for longer period of exposure time. A significant negative correlation was detected between seed germination rate and MC. Z. marina seeds are sensitive to desiccation exposure and long periods of exposure to air should be prevented to minimize seed mortality when seeds are used in restoration projects.     

The role of avian frugivores in germination of seeds of fleshy-fruited invasive alien plants

Many highly invasive plant species have fleshy fruits which are eaten by native frugivorous animals. These frugivores play an important role in long-distance seed dispersal, and may also affect germination success. The aim of this study was to determine whether generalist frugivores enhance or decrease seed germination of invasive alien species through pulp removal or seed coat abrasion, besides serving as dispersal agents. Fruits of four fleshy-fruited invasive alien plant species, namely Solanum mauritianum, Cinnamomum camphora, Lantana camara and Psidium guajava, were fed to three generalist avian frugivorous species, which have been observed feeding on these fruits in the wild. Seed retention time was recorded as this affects dispersal distance and the duration that seeds are exposed to the effects of the gut. Seeds removed from excreta, seeds from manually de-pulped fruit, and whole fruit were planted in soil trays housed in a greenhouse. Daily germination counts were done. Seed retention times differed significantly between bird species for all fruits, except those of C. camphora. However, all frugivores had a similar effect on the germination success of seeds of S. mauritianum, L. camara and P. guajava, showing that gut retention time was not important. Germination of seeds from manually de-pulped fruits did not differ from that of ingested seeds of all plant species, suggesting that seed coat abrasion was also not important. Pulp removal resulted in significantly higher germination rates, both in the two species with larger, multi-seeded fruit (S. mauritianum and P. guajava), and in the two species having single-seeded fruit with waxy exocarps (C. camphora and L. camara). Pulp removal also resulted in significantly earlier germination of L. camara and P. guajava seeds. Therefore, frugivores not only accelerate dispersal, but also greatly enhance seed germination of all fleshy-fruited invasive alien species in this study.     

Primary succession on glacier forelands in the subantarctic Kerguelen Islands

Abstract. Primary succession was studied on recently de-glaciated areas in front of the Ampère Glacier, Kerguelen Islands (49° 30′S, 69° 30′E). Vegetation, colonization processes and soil development were investigated on seven sites on the outwash plain over a distance of 5 km and representing a > 200-yr old chronosequence. Seven species are involved in the succession, showing four patterns of change: (1)‘pioneer’ (Poa kerguelensis, Poa annua, Colobanthus kerguelensis and Cerastium fontanum); (2)‘intermediate’ (Festuca contracta); (3)‘late colonizer’ (Azorella selago); and (4)‘fluctuating’ (Agrostis magellanica). Two of the pioneers are introduced species (Poa annua and Cerastium). The total plant cover increases significantly with the age of the sites but never exceeds 4.2 %. The plant succession pattern observed in this study appears to be related to soil development. Root architecture and fine particle dynamics in the soil may explain the behaviour of the different species along the chronosequence. The pioneer species have a very shallow root system whereas the intermediate and late colonizers are deeper and longer rooted. The dominance of Azorella selago (Apiaceae) in the oldest community may be attributed to its unique root system in relation to the vertical distribution of silt cappings in the soil.     

The “Trojan horse” strategy: Seed fungal endophyte symbiosis helps to explain the invasion success of the grass,Poa annua,in Maritime Antarctica

Aim

Poa annua L. (annual bluegrass) is presently the sole invasive vascular plant species to have successfully established in Maritime Antarctica, where it poses a significant conservation threat to native plant species. However, the reasons for its success in the region have yet to be established. Here, we determined whether the invasiveness of P. annua, and its competitiveness with the native Antarctic hairgrass Deschampsia antarctica, is influenced by symbioses formed with seed fungal endophytes, and whether plants derived from seeds from four global regions differ in their performance.

Locations

Four regions (Maritime Antarctica, sub-Antarctica, South America and Europe).

Methods

Endophyte frequency was measured in P. annua seeds collected from the four regions. The germination, survival, biomass accumulation, flowering and competitiveness with D. antarctica of P. annua plants grown from endophyte-uncolonised and uncolonised seeds was determined in the laboratory. The effects of endophytes on P. annua seed germination and survival and seedling osmoprotection were also assessed in the Maritime Antarctic natural environment using locally-sourced seeds.

Results

Endophytes were at least twice as frequent in seeds from Maritime Antarctica than in those from other regions. A higher proportion of endophyte-colonized seeds germinated and survived than did uncolonised seeds, but only when they originated from Maritime Antarctica. Seed endophytes increased the competitiveness of P. annua with D. antarctica, but only for plants grown from Maritime Antarctic seeds. In the field, endophyte-colonized seeds from Maritime Antarctica germinated and survived more frequently than uncolonised seeds, and osmoprotection was higher in seedlings grown from colonized seed.

Main Conclusions

The findings indicate beneficial effects of seed endophytes on invasion-related traits of P. annua, such as survival, germination success and flowering. Together with vegetative and reproductive traits facilitating the colonization process, the seed-fungal endophyte symbiosis can be invoked as an important factor explaining the invasiveness of P. annua in Maritime Antarctica.     

两种集合繁殖体形态及间歇性萌发特性——以蒺藜和欧夏至草为例

集合繁殖体(synaptospermy)是荒漠植物为适应恶劣环境条件而演化出的关键性特征,其作为植物生活史特性之一,有助于了解在荒漠环境下集合繁殖体植物的适应策略。蒺藜(Tribulus terrestris)和欧夏至草(Marrubium vulgare)分别为一年生及多年生草本植物,蒺藜扩散单位由一朵花发育而成的集合繁殖体组成,欧夏至草扩散单位由多朵花发育的集合繁殖体和种子组成,以这两种植物为材料,对其集合繁殖体形态、活力、吸水及萌发特性进行初步研究。结果显示:(1)蒺藜集合繁殖体依照发育成熟先后位置在质量、附属物刺的长度、附属物占质量百分比、种子数、活力、吸水量、萌发率及萌发速率均存在显著差异;欧夏至草集合繁殖体质量及吸水量明显大于种子,而活力、萌发率及萌发速率不存在显著差异。(2)萌发位置上,蒺藜集合繁殖体仅在长刺端位置的种子萌发,属非随机萌发,而欧夏至草集合繁殖体萌发不具有规律性,属随机萌发;萌发时间上,蒺藜和欧夏至草集合繁殖体在当季下均只萌发部分种子,具间歇性萌发特性。(3)对不同生活型植物而言,其集合繁殖体附属物对种子的保护、保水、扩散及萌发行为的功能相同,但一年生草本植物的萌发行为侧重于种群繁衍,因此蒺藜集合繁殖体在当季萌发率及萌发速率较高;多年生草本植物的萌发行为侧重于种群扩散,因此欧夏至草扩散单位多样化,且萌发率及萌发速率较低。     

Protocols for Use of Potamogeton perfoliatus and Ruppia maritima Seeds in Large‐Scale Restoration

Restoration of submerged aquatic vegetation from seed has been hampered by a lack of information on the appropriate conditions for collecting, processing, and storing seeds prior to dispersal. Seeds must be processed and stored under conditions that maintain seed viability, meet dormancy requirements, and prevent premature germination. This study examined the effects of collection date, processing technique, aeration, storage and induction temperature and salinity, and storage period on seed germination of two mesohaline aquatic species, Potamogeton perfoliatus and Ruppia maritima. Collection date and processing technique were significant factors affecting seed yield from donor populations. Seeds of both species remained viable and germinated best when stored at 4°C, and then exposed to freshwater induction conditions. However, their responses to other factors differed. Aeration during storage was necessary in order to maintain viability of P. perfoliatus seeds, whereas it was unnecessary for R. maritima seeds. Storage in freshwater at 4°C prevented germination of P. perfoliatus seeds, while high salinity during cold storage was necessary to minimize premature germination of R. maritima. Mean germination time of P. perfoliatus was dependent on storage salinity; in contrast, mean germination time of R. maritima seeds was dependent on induction salinity. These differences indicate that the methods required to produce large quantities of underwater plant seed amenable to large‐scale restoration efforts must be tailored to the specific requirements of individual species and must consider the range of processes from initial harvest through seed testing prior to field establishment.     

Seed germination and seedling emergence of Euryodendron excelsum H. T. Chang: implications for species conservation and restoration

Euryodendron excelsum H. T. Chang is a critically endangered plant from the family Theaceae that is endemic to China. It is now present in only one remnant population in a very narrow range and with a highly isolated and fragmented distribution pattern. The species is distributed close to the local villages and faces extinction because of the high level of anthropogenic disturbance. Thus, conservation and restoration of this species is urgent. The species reproduces by seed, but its germination requirements and seedling emergence are rarely understood. In this study, the germination requirements, desiccation tolerance and seedling emergence of the species were studied under controlled laboratory conditions. The results indicated that seeds of E. excelsum were non‐dormant. Optimal temperatures for germination were 15°C to 25°C; the germination percentage decreased and the mean germination time increased at high temperature. Seed germination was inhibited in the dark, suggesting that the seeds were positive photoblastic. Water stress also significantly inhibited germination percentage; no seeds germinated at 15% polyethylene glycol 6000. The fresh seeds had moderate moisture content of 28.6% and showed strong tolerance of dehydration. Thus, the seeds of E. excelsum tended to be orthodox. Seeds on the soil surface had the highest emergence percentage, which declined with depth of burial. Soil types significantly affected seedling emergence; seeds had higher emergence percentage in sandy soil than in mixed soil and clayed soil. Our study demonstrated that ex situ conservation and reintroduction of E. excelsum using seedling propagation from seeds is feasible.     

Germination of Prosopis juliflora (Sw) DC seeds after scarification treatments

Invasive plant species are the second most important threat to global biodiversity loss after land‐use change. Invasive species can modify native community composition, deplete species diversity and affect ecosystem processes. The Caatinga is one of the most human‐affected Brazilian ecosystems owing to non‐sustainable use of its natural resources. Prosopis juliflora is an important invasive plant species in the Caatinga ecosystem. Seed germination is a critical stage in plant life cycles and is a major factor in the establishment and success of invasive plant species. Among the factors that affect seed germination and dormancy, coat‐imposed seems to be the most important for P. juliflora. In Prosopis species, the ingestion of fruits by wild and domestic animals may promote and accelerate germination, enhancing the dispersal of seeds and fruits of these species. We investigated the germination capacity of P. juliflora seeds after artificial mechanical and chemical scarification and analyzed the changes in seedling vigor caused by the scarification treatments. Germination rate, germination time (TMG) and germination synchrony (E) differed significantly with the length of the scarification treatments in H₂SO₄ for both seeds with endocarps and seeds without endocarps (non‐endocarp seeds). Sulfuric acid affected plant survival more strongly than germination rate, particularly in non‐endocarp seeds.     

Comparative <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vitro</Emphasis> germination ecology of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Calopogon tuberosus</Emphasis> var. <Emphasis Type="Italic">tuberosus</Emphasis> (Orchidaceae) across its geographic range

Seed responses to temperature are often essential to the study of germination ecology, but the ecological role of temperature in orchid seed germination remains uncertain. The response of orchid seeds to cold stratification have been studied, but the exact physiological role remains unclear. No studies exist that compare the effects of either cold stratification or temperature on germination among distant populations of the same species. In two separate experiments, the role of temperature (25, 22/11, 27/15, 29/19, 33/24°C) and chilling at 10°C on in vitro seed germination were investigated using distant populations of Calopogon tuberosus var. tuberosus. Cooler temperatures promoted germination of Michigan seeds; warmer temperatures promoted germination of South Carolina and north central Florida seeds. South Florida seed germination was highest under both warm and cool temperatures. More advanced seedling development generally occurred at higher temperatures with the exception of south Florida seedlings, in which the warmest temperature suppressed development. Fluctuating diurnal temperatures were more beneficial for germination compared to constant temperatures. Cold stratification had a positive effect on germination among all populations, but South Carolina seeds required the longest chilling treatments to obtain maximum germination. Results from the cold stratification experiment indicate that a physiological dormancy is present, but the degree of dormancy varies across the species range. The variable responses among populations may indicate ecotypic differentiation.     

Germinability and enforced dormancy in seeds of species of indigenous grassland

Germination of seeds of a range of species from indigenous grassland was tested at an alternating temperature regime in incubators, soon after they were shed in 1978 and also after various intervals of dry storage at outdoor ambient temperatures. Concomitant investigations were made of seedling emergence from and seed survival at different depths of soil in pots; Poa annua and Poa trivialis were investigated separately in 1979. Almost all seeds of Lolium perenne, Cynosurus cristatus, Festuca rubra and Holcus lanatus germinated readily, but c. 30% of Deschampsia caespitosa seeds and c. 15% of fresh, early-shed Agrostis capillaris did not germinate until they were also given gibberellic acid. However, more late- than early-shed seed of the latter two species germinated and their seeds became more germinable with increasing length of storage. Of the dicotyledonous species tested, germination of Cerastium fontanum ssp. glabrescens was rapid and complete, but that of Ranunculus spp. was particularly protracted. All Ranunculus repens seeds and a large proportion of Ranunculus acris seeds were highly dormant. Species differed greatly in their ability to emerge from and persist at different depths in pots. The most persistent species after 15 months were R. repens (69%), A. capillaris (39%), Luzula campestris (37%), C. fontanum ssp. glabrescens (30%), P. trivialis (8%), D. caespitosa (7%) and H. lanatus (3%). A mean of 42% of P. annua and 16% of P. trivialis seeds persisted from autumn 1979 until late spring 1980, but pre-imbibing the seeds decreased seed persistence to 12% and 4% respectively. The results are discussed in relation to previously published information on the germination biology of the species and to the different abilities of the species to become part of the soil seed population.     

Endozoochory and Fire as Germination Triggers in Neotropical Dry Forests: an Experimental Test

Endozoochory and fire are crucial ecological factors determining germination success and recruitment in many plant species. Fire is a well‐known germination trigger while endozoochory may allow seed dispersal along with an increase in germination. Their interaction has rarely been addressed, however, even though both factors are pervasive in human‐transformed ecosystems like most Neotropical Dry Forests (NDF). For three common Mesoamerican tree species (Acacia pennatula, Enterolobium cyclocarpum, and Guazuma ulmifolia), we used feeding trials to assess the preference of cattle, which are their main seed dispersal agent. We also experimentally tested the interaction between gut passage and fire as triggers of germination. The fruits of the three species were eaten by cattle, but the small seeds of G. ulmifolia were ingested 10‐fold more than those of the other species. While gut passage did not have any effect on germination, heat‐shocks above 90 °C increased the number of germinating seeds by 15 percent. These results suggest that cattle may be a key dispersal vector in NDF, but that fire may be an important germination trigger. Physical dormancy in these species may have been selected for by extinct megaherbivores because it was a key trait ensuring seed survival after gut passage. However, in light of the recent expansion of cattle‐ranching and fire occurrence in NDF, it has become a useful exaptation facilitating the colonization of disturbed areas.     

In vitro culture of Chloraea gavilu Lindl., an endemic terrestrial orchid from Chile

Orchids are the second most diverse plant family, recognized for their importance as ornamental species; this has driven research development in propagation. One of the most common culture methodologies is in vitro asymbiotic germination, in which the nutritional conditions that provide orchids with a fungal partner are emulated. Although Chile possesses more than 60 terrestrial orchid species, in vitro cultivation protocols have only been developed for Chloraea crispa. In Southern Chile, Chloraea gavilu stands out due to its floral characteristics. We evaluate different explants and cultivation conditions for C. gavilu. The best germination and development results were achieved in the MM medium +0.1% yeast extract +1% sucrose +0.454 µmol l^?1 TDZ, using immature seeds of 24–30 days after pollination, which we cultivated into seedlings in order to be acclimatized and mycorrhized. In addition, induction of protocorm-like bodies was achieved from germinated seeds, using the same culture media as in the germination and development of immature C. gavilu seeds. This resulted in the successful asymbiotic germination of immature seeds, along with the micropropagation of a terrestrial, temperate orchid. We hope to use our protocol in the commercial production of Chilean orchid species as well as to propagate threatened species.