GERMINATION AND SEEDLING RESPONSE OF ATLANTIC AND GULF COASTS POPULATIONS OF UNIOLA PANICULATA

Germination response following various periods of cold treatment and seedling response to temperature, daylength, and salinity were studied for several Atlantic and Gulf coasts populations of Uniola paniculata L. Results indicated that Atlantic coast Florida populations did not require cold treatment prior to germination at 95–65 F, but that populations from Virginia and North Carolina did. Gulf coast populations exhibited a germination response intermediate between those just mentioned. Seedling studies revealed that alternating diurnal thermoperiods with daytime temperatures of 80 F and above produced good vegetative growth in all populations with little preference for either short- or long-day conditions. Gulf coast populations produced the most biomass under all treatment conditions. Seedlings from a North Carolina and a Florida population indicated no difference in substrate salt tolerance. Salt tolerance was reduced in the higher temperature thermoperiod for both populations. Seedlings from these two populations produced more biomass in a salt spray treatment than in substrate salinity treatments.     

GERMINATION AND SEEDLING RESPONSE OF ATLANTIC AND GULF COASTS POPULATIONS OF SPARTINA ALTERNIFLORA

Germination response to thermoperiod and seedling response to photoperiod-thermoperiod treatments and to uniform field conditions were compared for 12 populations of Spartina alterniflora Loisel. from along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Germination above 50 % was attained by seeds from all populations in 25–10, 30–15, and 35–20 C alternating diurnal thermoperiods following three months storage in estuarine water at 2–3 C. Except for Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Virginia, seedlings of populations from Ocracoke Island, North Carolina, and northward produced significantly more total biomass in the long- than in the short-day photoperiod in the 30–26 C thermoperiod. Seedling biomass of populations southward of Ocracoke Island, North Carolina, was not significantly affected by photoperiod in either the 18–14 or 30–26 C thermoperiods. Seedlings of all populations from Georgia and northward were significantly shorter and produced significantly more culms in the short- than in the long-day photoperiod in the 30–26 C thermoperiod. Seedlings from Mississippi and all populations from Virginia and northward had significantly lower shoot to root plus rhizome ratios under the short- than the long-day photoperiod in the 30–26 C thermoperiod. Flowering occurred only in populations from Ocracoke Island, North Carolina, northward in the 30–26 C thermoperiod. In a field study, flowering occurred in a north to south sequence and in all populations by the end of the second growing season. Controlled environment and field seedling studies indicated that southern populations flowered later, exhibited longer growing periods, and were less sensitive to photoperiod than northern populations. New England, Mid-Atlantic, South Atlantic, and Gulf coast populations differed in height, color, flowering time, length of growing period, and morphology through two growing seasons in the field study.     

SPATIAL VARIABILITY IN SEED PRODUCTION OF THE PERENNIAL BUNCHGRASS BOUTELOUA GRACILIS (GRAMINEAE)

The effects of soil texture and grazing by cattle on the production of seeds of Bouteloua gracilis were evaluated for a semiarid grassland in northeastern Colorado. Ten locations were chosen to represent the range in soil textures and grazing intensities found at the Central Plains Experimental Range research site. Number of flowering culms, inflorescences and seeds, length of each flowering culm, total biomass of reproductive structures (culms, inflorescences, and seeds), and basal area were assessed for 96 B. gracilis plants at each location. Community-level estimates of density of flowering culms and density of viable seeds were made for each location. Both soil texture and grazing by cattle were important to spatial variability in seed production and other indicators of reproductive effort by B. gracilis. Grazing was important in mediating effects of soil texture. On locations protected from grazing, soil texture had significant effects on seed production; the largest number of seeds was produced on the coarsest-textured soil and the fewest number on the finest-textured soil. Relationships between seed production and clay content and between seed production and other indicators of reproductive effort by B. gracilis were different for grazed and ungrazed locations. Spatial variability in seed production of B. gracilis as a result of spatial variability in soil texture and grazing may be important to the continued dominance of this species in the presence of disturbances that vary in time and space.     

RESOURCE ALLOCATION AND REPRODUCTION IN POPULATIONS OF AMPHICARPUM PURSHII (GRAMINEAE)

Five New Jersey populations of Amphicarpum purshii (an annual panicoid grass) were investigated as to total allocation of biomass to reproduction and its distribution between aerial chasmogamous and subterranean cleistogamous inflorescences. Germination of both types of seed was documented, for the first time, in not only the field but under three laboratory temperature regimes. Overall, approximately 29 % of the shoot biomass was allocated to reproduction. On a population basis, subterranean inflorescences accounted for 37–100 % of the reproductive biomass, and these seed (5 × heavier but fewer in number) were the source of most surviving seedlings. Subterranean spikelets contained caryopses significantly more frequently than aerial spikelets. The ratio of the number of viable aerial seed to the number of viable subterranean seed increased from 0/4 to 4/2 with recentness and/or frequency of disturbance. As a pioneer species in secondary succession, Amphicarpum purshii produces a larger subterranean propagule, with greater seedling vigor and a higher probability of local reproductive success, and also a smaller aerial propagule in larger numbers with potentially greater genetic variability.     

EFFECTS OF BURIAL BY SAND ON SEED GERMINATION AND SEEDLING EMERGENCE OF FOUR DUNE SPECIES

On the beach strand, seedlings of Cakile edentula, Elymus canadensis, and Corispermum hyssopifolium emerged from mean depths of 3.4, 3.5 and 3.0 cm, respectively. The frequency distribution of the depth of seedling emergence was 1) significantly leptokurtic for C. edentula and slightly platykurtic (not significant) for C. hyssopifolium and E. canadensis, and 2) significantly skewed to the right for C. edentula and E. canadensis but not for C. hyssopifolium. The total germination was not influenced by the burial of seeds at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 cm depths except in Ammophila breviligulata in which the germination decreased with increasing depth of burial. The rate of emergence and total emergence decreased with increased sowing depth for all four plant species. Species with larger seeds emerged from deeper burial treatments than those with small seeds. The order of ED₅₀ (the planting depth from which 50% of the seedlings emerged) and ED_max (the maximum depth from which a seedling emerged) was C. edentula (upper seeds) > E. canadensis > C. edentula (lower seeds) ≖ C. hyssopifolium > A. breviligulata and it coincided with weight per seed.     

THE EFFECT OF SEED DIMORPHISM ON THE GERMINATION AND SURVIVAL OF SALICORNIA EUROPAEA L. POPULATIONS

Seed dimorphism influenced the germination behavior of Salicornia europaea L., with small seeds being more dormant and less salt tolerant than large seeds. All of the large less dormant seeds of S. europaea germinated prior to May, and all seedlings produced after this time were from small seeds. A persistent seed bank was maintained by the small dormant seeds. Survivorship was relatively constant during the normal germination season, but increasing salinity stress at any time during the spring reduces the chance of seedling survival. Little germination occurred from July through September because of the high surface soil salinities during this period.     

四种植物种子萌发及苗期抗旱性差异的研究

对四种豆科植物种子萌发及苗期抗旱性作了比较研究,结果表示：种子萌发期抗旱笥强的植物其苗期抗旱性亦强。干旱引起组织脱水,植株生长受到抑制,幼苗出现衩始萎蔫时间与细胞膜受害时间一致。四种植物显示萎蔫时土壤含水量明显不同,红豆草为４．８０％、羊柴２．２％、花棒１．７４％、柠条１．５１％．据种子相对发芽率、膜透性变化等生理指标综合评定四种植物种子萌发及苗期抗旱能力次序为：柠条＞花棒＞羊柴＞红豆草。     

国产孔颖草属四新种

多年生,具下伸的短根茎;秆丛生,基部膝曲或倾斜,高40-60厘米,具多节,节上密生下向或铺散的长柔毛。叶鞘松弛裹茎,除鞘口具长柔毛外,其余无毛;叶舌膜质,长约2毫米,先端钝圆或略截形,撕裂状;叶片线形,粉绿色,长8-15厘米,宽5-7毫米,两面疏生疣基细毛,有时背面可无毛。     

POLLINATOR EFFECTIVENESS AND SEED SET IN POPULATIONS OF AGALINIS STRICTIFOLIA (SCROPHULARIACEAE)

Examining variation in pollinator effectiveness and seed production resulting from single pollinator visits can provide a deeper understanding of how pollinators may influence reproduction in plant populations. When comparing populations, differences in the number of seeds produced from single pollinator visits to flowers may not always be attributable to differences in pollen deposition, but rather to differences in plant fecundity or resource availability. Pollinator effectiveness and seed production were studied for two populations over a 4-year period and were measured using single bee visit manipulations of flowers. No significant difference in pollinator effectiveness (pollen deposited on stigmas) was observed between the two populations. However, a significant difference between the two populations was observed in the number of seeds produced per flower. The Wellhouse population produced approximately three times as many seeds/flower from a single pollinator visit as did the Firefly Meadow population. Within each population, pollinators (Bombus pennsylvanicus and Apis mellifera) did not differ in the number of pollen grains deposited on stigmas or seeds produced per flower from single visit experiments. Differences in plant density, pollen viability, and ovules per flower also could not account for a significant amount of the variation. A resource augmentation experiment (water and fertilizer application) resulted in a decrease in seeds per flower per bee visit for the water treatment at the Wellhouse population only. For both populations, pollen deposition, pollen viability, and ovules per flower were unaffected by the resource augmentation. Alternative possibilities for the observed differences in seeds per flower per bee visit are discussed.     

沙冬青种子萌发及幼苗生长特性

沙冬青(Ammopiptanthus mongolicus)是亚洲中部荒漠特有种,由于其分布的环境条件特殊,现存植被天然更新困难,人工育苗、造林存在一定问题。为改善种皮透水性,获得整齐一致的发芽,分别用21.5 (室温)、40、60、80和90 ℃的温水浸种5 min。结果表明: 60 ℃温水浸种效果最好,与对照相比,显著地提高了种子发芽势,并有效地降低硬实率。对比分析了15、20、25、30、35和40 ℃环境温度下种子萌发的特性,种子发芽最适温度是30 ℃,而胚根及下胚轴伸长最快的温度为25~30 ℃。较低温度下种子发芽延续时间较长,并且种子萌发后下胚轴和胚根伸长缓慢,易形成畸形(胚根严重扭曲、缢裂)幼苗。15 ℃时畸形幼苗占发芽种子数的28.1%,而30~40 ℃时仅占5.2%~8.6%。温度过高不利于种子萌发及幼苗生长,40 ℃时,吸胀种子绝大部分丧失活力,发芽种子在35 ℃以上温度下生长2~3 d,胚根胚轴组织呈水渍状坏死。另外,催芽后的种子播种在河沙中子叶出土最快,出土率可达63%,显著高于在粘质壤土中出土率(11%)。不同粒径的种子播种后幼苗生长特性表现出一定的差异,粒径5 mm以下小粒种子播种后幼苗长势弱,苗期成活率低,生长70 d后幼苗成活率仅为35.4%,而粒径5 mm以上种子同期幼苗成活率达56.2%。据上述试验结果,结合自然分布区内环境条件的资料,分析了沙冬青濒危原因,并为植被恢复育苗措施提出建议。     

鄂尔多斯高原4种主要沙生植物种子萌发与出苗对水分和沙埋的响应

 羊柴 (Hedysarum leave)、柠条 (Caragana korshinskii)、籽蒿 (Artemisia sphaerocephala)与油蒿 (Artemisia ordosica)为鄂尔多斯高原广泛分布的植物种,也是该地区飞播选用的主要植物种。由于飞播为鄂尔多斯高原植被恢复的重要手段,而飞播后植物种子的出苗率与土壤水分及沙埋密切相关。因此,上述植物种子萌发与出苗对水分和沙埋反应的研究对当地退化生态系统的恢复具有重要意义。通过温室控制实验,对4种植物萌发特性及出苗与水分和沙埋深度的关系进行研究,阐明了种子萌发最适合的水分条件和沙埋深度。结果表明,4种植物种子萌发与出苗最适宜的供水量都接近于当地种子萌发时期的平均降水量, 最适宜的沙埋深度为0.5～1 cm, 过多的水分和过深的沙埋会降低种子萌发与出苗,反映了4种植物对沙区环境的生态适应。4种植物最适宜的供水量均为123 ml,羊柴、柠条、籽蒿和油蒿的最适沙埋深度分别为：0.5、1.0、0.5和0.5 cm。根据实验结果及当地气候特点,鄂尔多斯地区的飞播时间应由6月初提前至5月中下旬,以提高飞播植物的出苗率。     

PHENOLOGY AND REPRODUCTIVE ALLOCATION IN ANDROPOGON SCOPARIUS (GRAMINEAE) POPULATIONS IN COMMUNITIES OF DIFFERENT SUCCESSIONAL STAGES

Successional populations of Andropogon scoparius in Franklin Township, Somerset County, New Jersey, were compared as to their phenology and reproductive allocation. Field data from six populations in old-fields ranging in age from 2 to 40 years indicated significant differences in both phenology and reproductive effort (ratio of reproductive to total shoot biomass). Mean date of first anthesis was consistently later with increasing age of the old-field, and the later the first anthesis date for a population, the lower was the reproductive effort. Population data on mean maximum height and seed weight showed no relation to successional age. Greenhouse experiments on three of the populations revealed that most of the field differences were attributable to local habitat effects on phenotypic expression. The possibility of some genetic differentiation paralleling successional age was raised by the consistent (though sometimes statistically not significant) differences between the early (3-yr) and late (40-yr) successional populations in date of first anthesis and in reproductive effort under two light intensities and uniform greenhouse conditions.     

CLONAL STRUCTURE,GENOTYPIC DIVERSITY,AND SEED PRODUCTION IN POPULATIONS OF FILIPENDULA RUBRA (ROSACEAE) FROM THE NORTHCENTRAL UNITED STATES

Queen of the prairie, Filipendula rubra (Rosaceae), is a clonal plant species inhabiting calcareous fens and wet meadows of the northcentral United States. F. rubra reproduces asexually by underground rhizomes and sexually by seed. While many studies have explored genotype diversity in clonal species with limited sexual reproduction, fewer have been conducted on clonal species with the potential for extensive sexual reproduction. We studied the relationship between the extent of sexual reproduction and genotype diversity. Although genotype diversity in F. rubra was double that reported by others for 27 nearly obligate clonal plant species, it was still quite low. For 25 populations studied, the mean number of genotypes was 5.5 (range = 1–15; SE = 0.964) and the average proportion of distinguishable genotypes was 0.38 (range = 0.03–1.00; SE = 0.07). The production of viable seed was quite variable among populations (mean proportion of viable seeds = 0.242; range = 0.002–0.565; SE = 0.04). Considering that some inflorescences can produce over 5,000 seeds, the potential for recruitment of sexually produced individuals is very large. No correlation was found between seed production and genotype diversity as was expected in a self-incompatible species in which one-third of the populations possessed a single genotype. It was hypothesized that the low genotype diversity found in numerous populations may be due to competition limiting recruitment of new seedlings.     

INTERACTION OF TEMPERATURE AND GIBBERELLIN ON POTATO SEED GERMINATION

Recently harvested true seed of potato frequently requires several months for complete germination. Gibberellic acid (GA₃) has a pronounced effect on seed germination, but this effect is influenced by temperature. As the temperature approaches 80 F, germination decreases considerably irrespective of GA₃ treatment. Potato seed germination is also favored by low temperature, but constant low temperature alone does not insure complete germination of dormant seeds. More than 95% germination of dormant seeds can be obtained within a week either by application of GA₃ at low temperature or by diurnal alternation of temperature. A possible mechanism for control of seed germination is discussed.     

沙埋和种子大小对固沙禾草沙鞭的种子萌发与幼苗出土的影响

该文研究了野外条件下不同深度的沙埋对沙鞭(Psammochloa villosa)种子萌发和幼苗出土的影响,以及温室条件下种子大小对不同深度沙埋后的种子萌发和幼苗出土的影响。结果表明,沙埋深度显著影响沙鞭的种子萌发率、幼苗出土率和种子休眠率。沙子表面的种子不能萌发。2 cm的浅层沙埋时的种子萌发率和幼苗出土率最高,1 cm 沙埋的种子萌发率和幼苗出土率次之。沙埋深度超过2 cm之后,沙鞭的种子萌发率和幼苗出土率与沙埋深度呈负相关。2 cm的种子休眠率最低。从2 ~12 cm,种子休眠率随着沙埋深度的增加而增加。在幼苗能够出土的深度(1~6 cm),幼苗首次出土所需的时间随着沙埋深度的增加而延长。种子大小对沙鞭的种子萌发率没有显著影响。但是在深层沙埋(6 cm)时,与小种子相比,大种子产生的幼苗的出土率较高。从2~6 cm,大种子形成的幼苗的茎长度都较长。     

成熟脱水对种子发育和萌发的作用

成熟脱水是正常性种子发育的末端事件。种子在成熟时胚的脱水耐性增加;当种子萌发时胚变得不耐脱水。当种子获得脱水耐性时,糖、蛋白质和抗氧化防御系统等保护性物质积累;当脱水耐性丧失时,这些物质被降解。成熟脱水是种子从发育过程向萌发过程转变的“开关”,它降低发育的蛋白质和ｍＲＮＡ的合成,终止发育事件和促进萌发事件。顽拗性种子不经历成熟脱水的发育阶段,对脱水高度敏感。