Structure and Dynamics of Populations of Japanese Barberry (Berberis Thunbergii DC.) in Deciduous Forests of New Jersey

Japanese barberry, Berberis thunbergii DC., has become a prominent exotic species in deciduous forests throughout the eastern and midwestern US. Populations range from small plants occurring at low densities to dense, impenetrable thickets of plants with up to 40 stems/individual. A study was undertaken at Morristown National Historical Park in New Jersey to document plant densities, plant size, recruitment through vegetative processes of new shoot initiation and clonal spread and recruitment from seedling establishment, and mortality of stems and plants. Nearly 2000 shoots on 370 plants were individually marked and followed for two growing seasons, and over 1000 seedlings were also individually marked and followed. Populations vary much more in total shoots/area than they do in plant individuals/area, or in mean plant size (shoots/plant), as even the sparse populations have a few large individuals. Shoot mortality is less than new shoot initiation, but most plants do not change in size or change by small numbers of stems. However, the number of new shoots per plant increases as plant size increases. Once plants have three stems, they suffer little or no mortality. Seedling establishment is proportional to the density of shoots, so that as plants grow in size, local recruitment from seed increases. Large numbers of seedlings, and a survival rate of 10%, combine to make seedling recruitment a major component of population increase. The combination of multiple forms of vegetative and seed-based population growth, and the very low rates of plant mortality due to the multi-stemmed growth form explains the ability of this invasive species to rapidly produce dense, persistent populations.     

Rhizome development ofPhragmites australis in a reed community

Variations in the height, shoot density, biomasses of above- and below-ground parts and rhizome distributions ofPhragmites australis were investigated along a line-transect in a reed community at Yufutsu Mire, Hokkaido. Relationships of performance of the reed plants to soil conditions and species compositions were also examined. Three types of rhizome development were recognized in reed plants; (1) the central part of the reed community, characterized by well developed rhizomes and dense aerial shoots, (2) the intermediate part, characterized by development of rhizomes along both the peat and surface layers and very dense aerial shoots, and (3) the marginal part, characterized by development of rhizomes only along the peat layer and sparse aerial shoots. Observation showed that rhizomes in the surface layer actively produced aerial shoots, whereas rhizomes in the peat layer contributed to the spreading of their distribution range. With the growth of rhizomes, organic debris originating from dead rhizomes and roots accumulated in the mineral soil to promote organic soil formation. In dense parts of the reed stand, species composition was poor because of the shading and litter accumulation by reed plants. The effects of microtopography and water level on the establishment of reed seedlings were also considered.     

In vitro propagation and field establishment of Eulophia cullenii (Wight) Bl., a critically endangered orchid of Western Ghats, India through culture of seeds and axenic seedling-derived rhizomes

An efficient protocol has been devised for the propagation and field establishment of Eulophia cullenii (Wight) Bl., a terrestrial orchid having ornamental potentialities, and is critically endangered in Western Ghats, India. Seeds extracted from 60–90-d-old capsules germinated in ½ MS, ¼ MS, Knudson C, or Mitra liquid medium developed into 1.4–2.5-mm-diameter protocorms in 60 d. Supplementation of organic additives like coconut water, peptone, yeast extract, and casein acid hydrolysate (CH) significantly enhanced protocorm growth. Upon subculture onto agar-gelled Mitra medium fortified with 0.05% CH, 56% of protocorms regenerated into shoots through the formation of linear mini-rhizomes. The regenerated shoots grew vigorously in ½ MS, producing new rhizomes. Mature rhizomes from axenic seedlings produced maximum (13?±?1.4) shoots/whole rhizome in ½ MS fortified with 44.4 μM 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP), in 120–150 d. Horizontal and longitudinal halves of the rhizome also gave multiple shoots (6–8.5) in the presence of 44.4 μM BAP. Shoots or shoot clumps sub-cultured onto ½ MS basal medium produced roots followed by rhizomes in 60–150 d. Seedlings with mature rhizomes showed 70% establishment in the nursery and added a new rhizome at the end of one growth cycle. An average of 70.6% of the rhizomes originating from seedlings during the second growth cycle sprouted to produce new shoots, when planted in the native localities. Asymbiotic germination and cloning through rhizomes thus can provide a large number of vigorous plants of E. cullenii for ornamental exploitation as well as eco-restoration, if rhizome as storage organ is ensured in the propagule.     

Population dynamics of the perennial Plantago media in semi‐natural grasslands

Abstract. In this study we investigated population dynamics of a perennial forb, Plantago media, in semi‐natural grasslands in southeastern Sweden. Plantago media is a rather common inhabitant of grasslands in this region, but it has been shown to experience dispersal limitations both among managed grassland sites and at potential dispersal routes along road verges. The demography of P. media was studied in 22 permanent plots at two sites over five years. A seed sowing experiment was also performed at each site. The life‐cycle of P. media includes seedlings, juveniles, small vegetative rosettes, large vegetative rosettes and flowering rosettes. The population growth rates (λ‐values) were negative for both populations, with one exception: the first year transition matrix at one site. The projected life span for individuals surviving from seedlings to flowering rosettes varied between 19.6 yr and 227.8 yr. Elasticity analysis showed that remaining in the large rosette stages, both vegetative and flowering, was the most important factor influencing population growth rate. LTRE analysis gave similar results, indicating that spatial and temporal variation have similar effects on the population growth rate. The expected time to extinction in populations with an initial size of between 100 and 1000 individuals varied between 60 and 200 yr. The seed sowing experiment showed that seedling emergence was enhanced by both seed addition and disturbance, suggesting that recruitment is limited by seed and microsite availability. Recruitment was not found to have much impact on population growth rate. However, long‐term population maintenance may depend on occasional small‐scale disturbances that enhance pulses of recruitment. Fragmented landscape is likely to effect plant populations including rare and endangered species as well as more common species which have limited dispersal mechanisms.     

‘Collar propagation’ as an alternative propagation method for rhizomatous miscanthus

The demand for perennial nonfood crops, such as miscanthus, is increasing steadily, as fossil resources are replaced by biomass. However, as the establishment of miscanthus is very expensive, its cultivation area in Europe is still small. The most common propagation method for miscanthus is via rhizomes, the harvesting of which is very labour‐intensive. Seed propagation is promising, but not suitable for sterile genotypes. In this study, a new vegetative propagation method, ‘collar propagation’, was tested in field and controlled environment studies. Collars are built at the junction between rhizome and stem. They can be harvested in a less destructive way than rhizomes by pulling out the stems from winter‐dormant miscanthus plants. One genotype of each of the species M. sacchariflorus, M. × giganteus, M. sinensis in combination with three fragment types (collars, rhizomes, collars + rhizomes) were tested for establishment success and plant performance. The performance (e.g. dry matter yield) of collar‐propagated plants was either better than or not significantly different from rhizome‐propagated plants. Pregrown plantlets transplanted into the field showed no significant differences in establishment success between the fragments within a genotype. When directly planted into the field however, the fragment ‘rhizome+collar’ had a significantly better establishment success than the other two. The winter survival rate of the fragment ‘rhizome+collar’ was 70% for M. sacchariflorus and 75% for M. × giganteus. Emergence success from collar‐derived plants was not affected by harvest date (harvested monthly from November to February). This study showed that miscanthus propagation via collars is feasible and a promising alternative to rhizome propagation, as the multiplication rate of collars is comparable to that of rhizome propagation. Collar propagation is the more suitable method for the tested genotypes of the species M. sachariflorus and M. × giganteus, but not for M. sinensis genotypes, which may be better propagated by seeds.     

川西北高寒沙区切断根茎对赖草和沙生苔草克隆生长的影响

为了研究高原亚寒带沙化生境中切断根茎对克隆植物基株扩展能力和分株定居能力的影响,在川西北若尔盖高原沙化区内,对根茎禾草赖草和沙生苔草进行了以切断根茎为处理的野外实验。结果表明,赖草和沙生苔草基株的幼小部分(观测单元)地上枝总长度增量、主根茎长度增量和根茎总长度增量显著减少,而对根茎数增量、主根茎节增量和根茎节总数增量影响不显著;赖草观测单元地上枝数增量显著减少,而对沙生苔草地上枝数增量无影响;赖草地上枝与根茎的相关性质发生逆转。这表明．在高原亚寒带半湿润沙化生境中．克隆整合效应显著促进基株幼小部分地上枝和根茎的伸长生长,但对新生根茎的产生和根茎节分化没有影响;切断根茎处理导致赖草、沙生苔草生殖生长与营养生长间竞争加剧,同时使赖草地上部分与地下部分间竞争加剧;观测单元在缺少与基株(或上级株系)的克隆整合作用时,赖草受到的影响大于沙生苔草。     

A comparison of two North-American asters invading in central Europe

Perennial North-American asters have become common in central Europe since the 17th century when they started to be cultivated as ornamental plants. Today, they are widely spreading especially in alluvial sites in lowlands. Two of the most common aster species, Aster lanceolatus and Aster novi-belgii, were investigated for their generative reproduction, including seed production and germination, and vegetative propagation (growth of rhizomes). Experimental sites with and without competition from the surrounding vegetation were used to test for differences between the species. Germination experiments showed that the asters produced a relatively high number of viable and easily dispersed seeds, which often germinated immediately after ripening and usually did not require any special treatment. Some aster clones produced more than 100 new rosettes from one initial rosette within a year. Apparently, asters are able to form large polycorms in a relatively short time. However, their rapid vegetative spread can be reduced by competition from established vegetation.     

Mathematical inference of the underground clonal growth of Epipactis helleborine (L.) Crantz (Orchidaceae, Neottieae)

Epipactis helleborine (L.) Crantz (Orchidaceae, Neottieae) can spread by sexual or vegetative propagation. The choice of strategy likely depends on the environmental conditions. The rhizome is the organ of vegetative reproduction; hence, it is crucial to understand its development. Unfortunately, it is hardly possible to investigate rhizome morphology directly, since E. helleborine is a protected species in most European countries. The goal of our investigation was to infer the growth patterns of underground parts of an orchid population from long-term annual observations of its aboveground shoots. We implemented the Minimum Spanning Tree method to determine a likely set of underground connections between shoots and to simulate the annual growth of new rhizomes. Furthermore, we modelled the spatial distribution of shoots with a density kernel estimator to compare the density gradients with the direction of growth of the rhizomes. Observed shoot numbers fluctuated between 72 and 183 from year to year. Our results suggest that (1) vegetative reproduction prevails in the studied population, (2) the population consists of about a dozen clones with a diameter of up to 6 m, (3) rhizomes produce up to five new shoots at one branch end per year, (4) rhizomes develop in the direction of decreasing population density, and (5) nodes of rhizomes may produce new offshoots after up to 7 years of dormancy.     

The relationship between climatic conditions and generative reproduction of a lowland population of Pulsatilla vernalis: the last breath of a relict plant or a fluctuating cycle of regeneration?

The alpine-boreal plants which have survived in Central European lowlands during glacial periods depend both on the preservation of their refugial habitat, and their capability for vegetative and generative reproduction and dispersion. Pulsatilla vernalis (L.) Mill. is a model species which occurs throughout most of the European alpine system, as well as in isolated populations in the lowlands. At present, the relict lowland localities of this species often have a historic character. In the Polish lowlands, only the population located in Rogowiec is characterized by effective recruitment. It presents a large number of rosettes and a diversified demographic structure, with plants in all stages of development. The study examines the population in Rogowiec from 2002 to 2008 with regard to the number of flowering and fruiting shoots, new seedlings, and loss of juvenile rosettes, and the obtained data are correlated with climatic conditions. Three years were found to demonstrate effective recruitment, with numerous seedlings and little loss of juvenile rosettes. No significant relationship was found between seedling dynamics and the flowering–fruiting process. However, correlations were found between effective renewal and some climatic factors. Temperature, water balance, and solar radiation were found to have a limiting effect on the reproduction and regeneration of the analyzed relict population. Due to the longevity of the rosettes, favorable climatic conditions occurring every few years are sufficient for survival of the species in this location. However, serious threats are posed by the climate change trends expected in Europe over the coming decades, and the fact that due to its small-scale dispersal ability, the analyzed species occupies only a small area in Rogowiec.     

Six-year field test results of micropropagated black cherry (Prunus serotina)

Summary A field test was established in 1987 to evaluate the growth of micropropagated black cherry plantlets and control seedlings. The study also evaluated effects of two container types on initial survival and growth and of pruning on stem form and growth. At the time of field establishment, plantlets had more extensive root systems than the control seedlings. Survival and height growth were not influenced by container size. Through the first three growing seasons, seedlings were larger than micropropagated plants, but growth differences diminished in the fourth through sixth seasons. Pruning increased the length of clear stem by nearly five-fold but adversely affected diameter growth. Although all clones were from ortet trees more than 50 yr old, none showed plagiotropic growth. Six-year results showed that in a well-prepared and maintained plantation, black cherry trees derived from tissue culture can have at least 80% survival, and growth rates in excess of 1 m per year.     

COLONIZATION AND ESTABLISHMENT OF MISSOURI PRAIRIE PLANTS ON ARTIFICIAL SOIL DISTURBANCES. I. DYNAMICS OF FORB AND GRAMINOID SEEDLINGS AND SHOOTS

We observed colonization and mortality of plants in small (26 m²) artificial soil disturbances and undisturbed controls in a tall-grass prairie from 1977–1980. This paper examines the dynamics of colonists based on mode of origin (seedlings and shoots) and broad taxonomic affinity (forbs and graminoids). Few seedlings colonized either disturbances or controls the first year, probably due to a severe drought in 1976 when few seeds were produced. Graminoid shoots were more abundant in disturbed sites than in controls the first year, probably due to the “edge effect” of cutting roots and rhizomes and stimulating new growth. For each year following the first, the number of current residents peaked early in the season and then declined, with the decline more precipitous for seedlings than for shoots. The population fluctuations of seedlings were very predictable, and separate years resembled each other. In contrast to seedling populations, graminoid shoot populations generally were accumulating throughout the study. Populations of forb shoots rose and fell, but the years did not resemble each other. Neither seedlings nor forb shoots showed a response to the new uncolonized soil resource of the artificial disturbances compared to controls, but graminoid shoots were more common on disturbed sites. These results suggest a nonequilibrium dynamic among colonizers of small-scale microsites.     

The relative contributions of sexual reproduction and clonal propagation in Opuntia rastrera from two habitats in the Chihuahuan Desert

1 The clonal cactus Opuntia rastrera shows predominantly sexual reproduction in grasslands (GH) and clonal propagation in nopaleras (NH). We assessed the effects of light, herbivory, water availability and the habitat an offspring came from on the survival and growth of sexual or clonal offspring (i.e. seedlings and cladodes), through 3- and 4-year common garden and short-term greenhouse experiments.
2 Shading by nurse plants increased seedling survival in the field by an order of magnitude, and a small additional advantage due to predator protection by grasses was observed. Strong herbivory transforms a facultative nurse–protégé relationship for seedlings into an obligatory one.
3 In the greenhouse seedlings grew better under shade, but in the field the production of the first cladode was delayed in seedlings in the more shaded GH. Competition for soil resources may be more intense under a dense grass tussock than under a open shrub, thus affecting the nurse–protégé relationship. Seedling survival under nurse plants was similar in GH and NH, but higher plant cover suggests that a larger number of seedlings will establish in GH in the long term.
4 Cladode survival was higher in NH. Cladodes were more successful than seedlings at establishing in intercanopy areas, possibly due to physiological differences as well as their ability to survive partial predation. Cladode survival in intercanopy areas may explain the enhanced clonal propagation in the more open NH scrubland, together with their susceptibility to the flooding which affects GH.
5 The high seedling and cladode survival in the greenhouse experiments contrasted with that observed in the field, indicating that survival is determined by the interaction between herbivores, plants and abiotic conditions rather than the physiological aptitude of the plants.     

Love of Nurse Plants is Not Enough for Restoring Oak Forests in a Seasonally Dry Tropical Environment

The highest concentration of oak species in the world occurs in Mexico, but human activities have strongly degraded these oak forests. Mexican oaks have high economic, social, and cultural value, and restoring these forests is of paramount importance for the people of Mexico. Here, we propose a method for restoring oak forests using native shrubs that colonize degraded areas as nurse plants for oak seedlings. To test the viability of this proposal, seedling transplant experiments were performed in a degraded area near a protected oak forest relict. Two pioneer shrubs were identified as potential nurse species: Mimosa luisana and Senecio sp. The target oak species was Quercus castanea . Oak seedlings were located beneath the canopies of both shrubs and in the surrounding area without shrub cover. Water is a limiting resource for oak establishment in seasonally dry environments; therefore, we included irrigation systems in our experimental design to determine whether the combination of nurse plants plus watering led to higher rate of survival than the presence of nurse species alone. Seedling survival without watering was less than 20% both beneath nurse species and in the surrounding habitat. When water was supplied, survival rate beneath nurse species increased up to 58% while survival in the surrounding habitat did not differ from that observed in treatments without watering. Our results indicate that survival rate of oak seedlings is increased by the presence of nurse plants only when water is supplied. This suggests that restoration of oak forests in these degraded areas requires both nurse plants and watering.     

The Eucalypt Lignotuber: a Position-dependent Organ

Observational and experimental evidence is presented to showthat the capacity to form a lignotuber is not restricted tothe cotyledonary, and a few succeeding, nodes on the primaryseedling stems of certain eucalypts, but is also a propertyof shoots arising from their accessory buds. Erect secondaryshoots from the lignotuber, may bear lignotubers at a few nodes,rhizostolons at many nodes along their length, and, like stolons,rhizomes may give rise to leafy shoots bearing basal lignotubers.These facts describe a so-called position effect for the productionof lignotubers, in the sense that the term has been used forother position-dependent phenomena in plants. Seedlings of lignotuberousspecies remain competent to form lignotubers over a long periodof adversity during which lignotubers are not formed. Shootsof non-lignotuberous species do not inhibit lignotuber developmentwhen grafted to lignotuberous species. eucalypts, lignotubers, position effect, vegetative propagation, tissue culture, rhizostolons, rhizomes     

Reproductive strategy of an invasive thistle: effects of adults on seedling survival

Invasive species are known for their ability to form monocultures that exclude native species, yet intraspecific interactions among invasives have not been well studied. Cynara cardunculus (L.) is an invasive perennial thistle that establishes high-density populations in coastal California grasslands. We examined the natural distribution of C. cardunculus seedlings in an established population and found that nearly 100% of seedlings grew within 2 m of adults despite an expected distribution peak at 3 m from source plants based on measured dispersal distances. We then investigated the role of mature plants in seedling survival and establishment with regard to live vegetation, litter, and seedling distance by planting seedlings at increasing distances around adults and applying removal treatments to the focal adult rosettes. We applied control (no removal), adult rosette removal (live leaves), litter removal (dead leaves), and adult rosette plus litter removal (all aboveground plant material) treatments. Seedlings experienced a higher rate of survival, measured by senescence date, and establishment, measured by return rate the following year, with all adult rosette removal treatments. Inhibition by adult rosettes was reduced with distance to 60–80 cm from the rosette, and there was little effect of adult plants between 80 and 200 cm. These results suggest that adult rosettes may inhibit conspecific seedlings at very close distances but provide a favorable environment for seedlings within nearby interspaces. This pattern may contribute to the creation and maintenance of high-density populations in C. cardunculus. Land managers seeking to control this species may improve long-term effectiveness by expanding management efforts to include a 2 m radius around adult plants and treating within 5 months of seedling emergence to prevent recruitment rather than treating adults alone.     

Life-history consequences of vegetative damage in scarlet gilia, a monocarpic plant

Although herbivory can occur throughout a plant's life, little is known about relative fitness impacts of damage at different life stages. In the long-lived monocarpic wildflower, Ipomopsis aggregata (scarlet gilia), for example, the response to browsing by ungulates in the year of flowering has been studied extensively, whereas damage and its fitness consequences during the preceding years of vegetative growth remain largely unexplored. As part of a long-term demographic study of I. aggregata , we mapped 5324 individual seedlings belonging to two annual cohorts in three natural populations, and followed these plants throughout their lives. Of the 30.4% of plants that survived past seedling stage, 15.3% suffered observable damage to the apical meristem of their single rosette of leaves, usually resulting in multiple rosettes in vegetative plants and multiple flowering stalks in plants that survived to flower. Vegetative damage reduced survival to flowering by ca 30%, and slowed growth, leading to an average delay in flowering of over one yr relative to undamaged plants. On average, damaged plants were 136% larger than undamaged members of their cohort in the summer before flowering, but produced only 86% as many flowers, and achieved 78% the overall fitness compared to undamaged plants when damage effects were integrated across their life history. Previously published studies from the same sites suggested that plants suffering browsing during only the year of flowering, achieved 47% of the fitness of unbrowsed plants. Our results indicate that plants are better able to recover from vegetative damage than from loss of their initial reproductive effort, perhaps because of the longer time over which recovery is possible in the former case. These results underscore the importance of studying the consequences of damage across the entire life history.     

Density regulation during the regeneration of two monocarpic bamboos: self-thinning or intraclonal regulation?

Abstract. The population dynamics of two monocarpic bamboos, Sasa kurilensis and S. tsuboiana, were studied for more than 10 years after establishment following mass flowering. Both species show vigorous rhizomatous vegetative reproduction after growing up to maturity, but horizontal expansion in the seedling stage was much more vigorous in S. tsuboiana than in S. kurilensis. The pattern of changes in culm density in the two species was strikingly similar: culm densities of both species increased until they reached full-density states, after which they decreased in accordance with seedling growth. However, the mode of regulation in culm density was different. S. kurilensis seedlings were composed of only a few culms and scarcely extended their rhizomes during the observation period. Such poor lateral expansion resulted in asymmetric competition as observed in many non-clonal plants, and consequently their culm density decreased as a result of the mortality of genets due to self-thinning. In S. tsuboiana seedlings, the number of culms per genet increased considerably by frequent tillering and sprouting from rhizomes. However, after reaching full density state, the Bud Utility Ratio (BUR), (the proportion of the rhizome nodes with culms to the total number of rhizome nodes), decreased drastically. In this manner, S. tsuboiana regulated culm density intraclonally as is observed in the stable states of many clonal plants. Hence it is important for the understanding of the regeneration process in clonal species to clarify when and how their seedlings extend rhizomes during their growth.     

Effects of Severing Rhizome on Clonal Growth in Rhizomatous Grass Species Psammochloa villosa and Leymus secalinus

A field experiment was conducted in Inner Mongolian dune to investigate the contribution of clonal integration to genet expansion and ramet establishment in clonal plants in semi-arid inland dune. In the experiment, the developing parts (plant observing unit) of two rhizomatous grass species Psammochloa villosa (Trin.) Bor and Leymus secalinus (Georgi.) Tzvel. were subjected to the treatment of severing rhizomes. The 7 characters relevant to the elonal growth of the plant observing units were investigated such as total length of shoots, number of shoots, number of rhizomes, length of main rhizome, total length of rhizomes, number of main rhizome nodes and total number of rhizome nodes. The results showed that the increments in those plant characters were reduced by the treatment in P. villosa, while no effect of the treatment was observed in L. secalinus. The results suggest an interspecific difference in clonal integration and in its contribution to clonal growth. In P. villosa, clonal integration and clonal growth offer great contributions to the survival of the plants in the sandy grassland characterized where water shortage, strong transevaporation, infertility, habitat patchiness and frequent disturbance were most characteristic.     

Understanding the germination of bulbils from an ecological perspective: a case study on Chinese yam (Dioscorea polystachya)

Background and Aims

Bulbils serve as a means of vegetative reproduction and of dispersal for many plants; this latter aspect making them analogous to seeds. However, germination of bulbils may differ considerably from seeds due to dissimilar anatomical structures and perhaps environmental cue perception. The few laboratory studies done on bulbils suggest that their germination is similar to that of seeds in the same habitats and to vegetative buds of winter-dormant plants. The present study is the first to examine how bulbil germination is controlled in nature in relation to dispersal (before vs. after winter of the same cohort) and to ambient temperatures.

Methods

Under laboratory conditions, temperature and light requirements for root and shoot emergences from bulbils of Dioscorea polystachya collected in September, 2005, February, 2006 (produced in 2005) and July, 2006 were determined. Effects of cold stratification and dry storage for releasing dormancy were tested on September and July bulbils. The phenology of dormancy release and of root and shoot emergences and the persistence of bulbils in soil were followed over time under field conditions.

Key Results

Although a low percentage of bulbils collected in July or in September produced roots, but no shoots, in the laboratory and field, these roots died within approx. 1 month. Regardless of collection date, cold stratification markedly increased root and shoot emergences. Bulbils sown outdoors in October produced roots and shoots the following March and April, respectively. The soil bulbil bank is short lived.

Conclusions

Bulbils of D. polystachya are similar to seeds of many temperate plants being mostly dormant when dispersed in summer or autumn and overcoming dormancy with cold stratification during winter. Adaptively, bulbil germination primarily occurs in spring at the beginning of a favourable period for survivorship and growth.     

淡黄花百合珠芽发育过程的形态学与解剖学研究

以野生淡黄花百合(Lilium sulphureum)为实验材料,通过形态学观察、石蜡切片方法对珠芽的发生规律、发育过程中的形态学变化及解剖结构特征进行了研究,以阐明淡黄花百合珠芽繁殖的生物学机制。结果显示:淡黄花百合的珠芽形成于地上茎叶腋处叶柄的近基部位置,由叶柄表皮以内数层薄壁细胞不断分裂和分化形成;珠芽的发育过程可划分为启动期、膨大期和成熟期三个时期。成熟珠芽外观上成圆形或椭圆形,珠芽中部的薄壁细胞含有大量淀粉颗粒。淡黄花百合的珠芽具有很高的萌发率(90%以上)。研究表明,珠芽营养繁殖是其生态适应的一种重要机制。