霸王果翅及其浸提液对种子萌发的影响

在室内控制条件下,研究了霸王果翅对其种子萌发及果翅浸提液对霸王、红砂与无芒隐子草3种荒漠植物种子萌发的影响.结果表明:(1)果翅可完全抑制霸王种子的萌发.具有完整果翅的霸王种子萌发率为0;剥去果翅后霸王种子萌发率最高达91%;果翅刺破后其发芽率为4O%;而将种子与剥离后的果翅一起培养,其发芽率为88%.(2)果翅浸提液在低浓度条件下(0.025 g/Ml)对3种供试种子的萌发率均无显著影响.但高浓度浸提液(>0.025 g/Ml)则均显著降低种子萌发率;不同浓度浸提液均显著降低3种种子的萌发速率,对其胚根生长亦存在显著抑制作用;但对胚芽生长的影响则表现为低浓度(0.025 g/Ml)具促进作用,而高浓度具抑制作用.研究表明,霸王果翅可引起种子休眠,其浸提液中的萌发抑制物是引起种子休眠的主要方式.     

沙埋对西鄂尔多斯珍稀植物种子萌发和幼苗出土的影响

采用不同沙埋深度(0、1、2、3、5、7、10 cm埋深)处理,对内蒙古西鄂尔多斯4种珍稀植物霸王(Zygophyllum xanthoxylum)、沙冬青(Ammopiptanthus mongolica)、蒙古扁桃(Prunus mongolica)和长叶红砂(Reaumuria trigyna)种子萌发及幼苗出土情况进行研究,以揭示其种子萌发特性.结果表明:表层沙土(0 cm埋深)的种子几乎不萌发;除霸王外,其他3种植物在不同沙埋深度处理下的种子萌发率差异显著(P＜0.05);沙埋对4种珍稀植物的幼苗出土均有显著影响,出苗率随着沙埋深度的增加而降低,且遵循指数方程.霸王在2 cm沙埋深度的出苗率最高,其他物种在1 cm沙埋深度的出苗率最高.沙埋深度对幼苗生物量的影响不显著.     

土壤埋藏深度和埋藏时间对辽东栎种子萌发的影响

以采自宁夏六盘山区的辽东栎(Quercus wutaishanica)种子为材料,研究了不同土壤埋藏深度(0、30和50 cm)和埋藏时间(2、4、6、8、10和12周)对种子萌发的影响,以探索辽东栎种子的安全贮藏条件和长期贮藏潜力,为辽东栎的种苗繁育和退化辽东栎灌丛及次生林的恢复实践提供参考.结果表明,尽管土壤埋藏处理前期(2周)种子萌发受到抑制,但随着埋藏时间的延长,萌发率提高,萌发速率加快,且萌发指数和活力指数均呈波动性增大趋势,埋藏12周后,30和50 cm埋深处理种子的萌发率分别为90.1％和96.8％.种子霉烂率表现为随埋藏深度的增加而提高的趋势,且各埋深处理种子的霉烂率随埋藏时间的延长而提高.种子埋藏2周后,开始出现自动萌发现象;埋藏12周后,30和50 cm埋深处理种子的自动萌发率分别为24.5％和43.0％.     

果翅对梭梭属(Haloxylon)种子萌发行为的调控

种子萌发行为的受控机制是生殖生态学的重要研究内容。通过果翅存留实验研究了在不同贮藏时期果翅对梭梭和白梭梭种子萌发的影响。结果表明：①新成熟的梭梭种子具有高的萌发率（〉90％）。梭梭果翅对秋天新成熟的种子萌发有显著的抑制作用（萌发率〈50％）,使种子处于强迫休眠状态;果翅对种子萌发的抑制作用随着贮藏时间的推移逐渐降低,到翌年春天（4月）这种抑制作用已完全解除,果翅对梭梭种子的抑制主要是化学抑制。果翅对梭梭种子萌发行为的调控作用确保了种子在合适的时间萌发与种群的成功定居,也正是梭梭在荒漠地区广泛分布的主要原因。②新成熟的自梭梭种子萌发率为59．5％,贮藏1个月后达到80％。表明种子存在短时期的生理后熟现象。白梭梭果翅在每一贮藏时期对其种子的萌发都具有显著的抑制作用,翅＋种子（将果翅与种子剥离。一起放人培养皿中）也部分地抑制种子的萌发,因此,果翅对白梭梭种子萌发的抑制既有化学抑制也存在机械抑制。果翅对种子萌发的抑制,限制了白梭梭的分布。     

埋藏条件下3种干旱荒漠植物的种子休眠释放和土壤种子库

对种子休眠的自然释放及其作用因素的研究, 是了解种子休眠生态学、种群适应机制的重要途径。以内蒙古阿拉善干旱荒漠区的3种主要植物牛枝子(Lespedeza potaninii)、唐古特白刺(Nitraria tangutorum)和骆驼蒿(Peganum nigellastrum)为材料, 研究了种子在野外埋藏18个月期间和4个埋深条件下的休眠释放特性和土壤种子库。3种植物种子在野外埋藏时(采收后5 ℃冷藏6个月)的休眠率分别为98%、95%和3%。结果显示, 埋藏过程中, 3种植物种子的休眠释放表现出不同的变化特性。对牛枝子而言, 置于地表(0 cm)的种子比埋藏于土中的种子的休眠释放快, 埋藏期末, 埋深0、2、5和10 cm的种子的休眠率分别为64%、87%、86%和82%。唐古特白刺种子埋藏6个月后, 各埋深的休眠已完全释放, 释放速率随埋深增加而加快。骆驼蒿种子具有典型的季节性休眠循环特性, 休眠率各年度最高点出现在10月份, 释放速率随埋深增加呈减慢趋势。埋藏期末不同埋深条件下, 牛枝子、唐古特白刺和骆驼蒿种子的平均田间萌发率分别为11%、12%和8%; 平均室内萌发率分别为3%、74%和42%; 而平均死种子率分别为3%、15%和10%。根据Thompson和Grime (1979)的土壤种子库分类体系, 供试的3种植物都属于持久土壤种子库类型。     

沙埋和种子大小对柠条锦鸡儿种子萌发、出苗和幼苗生长的影响

研究了沙埋深度和种子大小对内蒙古毛乌素沙地植被群落中占优势的柠条锦鸡儿(Caragana korshinskii Kom.)种子萌发、出苗、幼苗存活和生长的影响.结果表明,沙埋深度显著影响柠条锦鸡儿的种子萌发率、休眠率、出苗率、幼苗存活率及生物量.在0.5-2cm的浅层沙埋下,种子萌发率、出苗率、幼苗存活率及生物量最高,休眠率最低;沙埋深度≥4 cm时,柠条锦鸡儿的种子萌发率、出苗率、幼苗存活率及生物量随着沙埋深度增加显著降低,而休眠率却显著升高;沙埋深度≥12 cm时,柠条锦鸡儿种子不能够出苗,幼苗也不能够存活.种子大小对柠条锦鸡儿种子萌发率没有显著影响,但对出苗率、幼苗存活率及生物量影响显著.在各个沙埋深度下,不同大小的柠条锦鸡儿种子间的萌发率没有显著差异.当沙埋深度≤6 cm时,不同大小的柠条锦鸡儿种子在同一沙埋深度下的出苗率间没有显著差异;但当沙埋深度≥8 cm时,在同一沙埋深度下,大种子的出苗率显著高于中种子和小种子的出苗率,而中种子和小种子出苗率间没有显著差异.0.5-10 cm的沙埋深度中,除6 cm和8 cm深度下中种子和小种子萌发幼苗的生物量间没有显著差异外,其余深度下,大种子萌发的幼苗的存活率及生物量显著高于同一沙埋深度下中种子萌发的幼苗的存活率及生物量,后者又显著高于小种子萌发的幼苗的存活率及生物量.可能正是种子萌发对沙埋环境的忍耐或响应能力以及种子的多态性提高了柠条锦鸡儿在毛乌素沙地的适合度,为其在流动或半流动沙丘环境中成功定居并形成优势群落奠定了基础.     

柠条种子萌发对不同光照强度和沙埋深度的响应

为揭示柠条(Caragana korshinskii Kom.)种子萌发对光照强度和沙埋深度的响应,在不同光强(55.4%自然全光照(natural sunlight,NS)、18.9%NS、5.5%NS和2.2%NS)和沙埋深度(0、0.5、1.0、2.0和4.5 cm)下,研究了柠条种子的萌发特征。结果表明:光强对柠条种子的萌发率、萌发速率、萌发指数和活力指数均影响显著;沙埋深度显著影响萌发指数和活力指数;光强与沙埋深度的交互作用显著影响萌发率、萌发指数和活力指数。柠条种子的萌发率、萌发速率和萌发指数在除0 cm外的其他沙埋深度均随着光强的减弱逐渐减小;活力指数在0 cm沙埋深度随着光强的减弱表现为增大趋势,而在其他沙埋深度随着光强的减弱持续减小或波动性减小。在55.4%NS、18.9%NS和5.5%NS光强下,萌发率在1.0 cm沙埋深度最大(分别为45.0%、30.6%和27.5%),0 cm沙埋深度最小(分别为22.2%、22.1%和20.0%),萌发速率、萌发指数和活力指数均随着沙埋深度的增加先增大后减小,且均在0.5～2.0 cm沙埋深度最大;在2.2%NS光强下,所有萌发参数均随沙埋深度的增大逐渐减小,其中萌发率、萌发速率和萌发指数在1.0、2.0和4.5 cm沙埋深度均显著小于0 cm沙埋深度(P0.05),而活力指数在0 cm沙埋深度与其他沙埋深度间的差异均达显著水平(P0.05)。研究表明,光照和沙埋是影响柠条种子萌发的重要环境因子,沙埋可增大种子萌发对光照的依赖;适度沙埋在强光下促进柠条种子萌发,但在弱光下则抑制种子萌发。     

红砂和霸王种子萌发对干旱与播深条件的响应

红砂(Reaumuria soongorica)和霸王(Zygophyllum xantho xylum)分别是我国西北干旱荒漠区重要的超旱生小灌木和灌木.试验室条件下,研究了两种灌木种子萌发对干旱胁迫(以PEG模拟干旱条件)和播深的响应.干旱胁迫设0、 -0.3、 -0.6、-0.9、-1.2、-1.5、-1.8、-2.1、-2.4、-2.7MPa共10个处理,播深设0、0 .3,0.5,1.0,1.5,2.0,3.0,4.0cm共8个处理.结果显示模拟干旱条件下,供试种的发芽势(3d发芽率)皆从-0.3MPa起即开始显著下降(P<0.05) .发芽率红砂从-0 .9MPa渗透势、霸王从-0.6MPa开始显著降低;种子萌发的最低渗透势阈值红砂和霸王分别为-1.8MPa和-1.5MPa.干旱胁迫对种子胚芽生长有抑制作用,但轻度干旱可促进初生根生长,重度干旱胁迫抑制初生根生长.播深实验表明,红砂和霸王种子均为子叶出土发芽类型 .一般情况下,供试种随播深增加胚芽长度呈增加而初生根呈下降趋势,但霸王在播于土表时初生根生长受到抑制.实验室条件下,达到最大出苗率的播深红砂为0～0.5cm,霸王为0 ～2cm.在适宜条件下,红砂和霸王种子萌发的最低需水量分别为110%和90%,初始萌发时间分别为40h和48h.红砂种子发芽势低(28%)、萌发持续而分散;霸王种子发芽势高(87%) 、萌发整齐.讨论了两种种子发芽对干旱和播深的响应特征及其生态生物学意义.     

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。     

沙埋对花棒种子萌发和幼苗生长的影响

为探讨花棒(Hedysarum scopariium)种子萌发和幼苗生长对沙埋的响应,并为固沙造林、水土保持提供理论基础,研究了6种沙埋深度(0、1、2、3、4和5cm)对花棒种子萌发和幼苗生长的影响.结果表明,埋深对花棒幼苗出土率、首次出苗时间、单株叶片数、幼苗生长高度以及生物量的分配均有极显著影响(P<0.001).种子出苗率在2 cm沙埋下达到最高(95.6%),在5cm沙埋下最低(43.4%);幼苗最大高度(11.6cm)、绝对株高(13.9cm)和最大地上生物量(26.7mg)均出现在2cm的埋深,幼苗最小高度(3.3cm)、最小根长(4.3cm)和最小地上生物量(5.3mg)出现在5cm的埋深;生物量分配随沙埋深度增大而更多地分配给地下部分.2cm的沙埋是花棒种子萌发和幼苗生长的最佳深度.     

Factors influencing seed germination of Salsola affinis (Chenopodiaceae), a dominant annual halophyte inhabiting the deserts of Xinjiang, China

Salsola affinis is a dominant annual inhabiting saline deserts of Xinjiang, China. Experiments were conducted to determine the effects of temperature, winged perianths and NaCl on seed germination and on germination recovery from the effects of saline conditions after transfer to distilled water. Freshly harvested seeds could germinate equally well in light and darkness at 5–30 °C. Attached winged perianths significantly inhibited germination, removal enhanced germination. However, germination was not inhibited in the presence of detached winged perianths in any of the temperature treatments. We suggest that the winged perianth is a mechanical barrier for radicle emergence, not a barrier for water uptake; hence, it inhibited germination. Germination of seeds from which the perianth had been removed was not affected by NaCl at concentrations below 0.4 mol/l, but it was significantly decreased by NaCl at concentrations of 0.6–2.0 mol/l. No seeds germinated at 4.0 mol/l NaCl. Seeds incubated in NaCl at concentrations of 0.05–4.0 mol/l for 14 days recovered after being transferred to distilled water. However, germination was lower than that in the non-saline control, indicating that a portion of the NaCl-treated seeds may lose their ability to germinate.     

Vertical structure of seed banks and the impact of depth of burial on recruitment in two temporary marshes

The structure of the seed bank (including Chara oospores), in relation to depth within the sediment and disturbance, was studied in two Rhône delta temporary marshes for two years. The seeds of all species were concentrated in the top 2 cm of sediment with very low numbers beeing found below 4 cm. When an exclosure eliminated disturbances of the sediment by animals, the vertical repartition of seeds at site 2 was more pronounced than outside the exclosure.In experiment 1, the emergence capacity of seeds from different depths and buried under layers of sterile equivalent to those in the field was measured. Depending of the species, 22 to 98% of the seeds germinated from unburied seeds in the top 2 cm. Only 1% of the oospores of Chara (from site 2) at 2 to 4 cm depth in the sediment emerged.In experiment 2, surface seed bank samples were placed under 0, 2 or 4 cm sterile sediment depth. The samples contained numerous recent seeds and the emergence percentage reached 41% (for Ruppia maritima). Only the seeds of Zannichellia spp failed to germinate from a depth of 2 cm or more. The emergence percentage from 2 cm depth or more was always lower than at the surface. These experiments showed that both burial and ageing of seeds decrease germination capacity.The majority of the active seeds located at the surface germinate when the marsh is flooded. Seeds located between 2 and 4 cm can be brought back to the surface by disturbances and play the role of a reserve involved in maintenance of populations that go without seed production for one or some years.     

Effects of dung and seed size on secondary dispersal,seed predation,and seedling establishment of rain forest trees

Seeds dispersed by tropical, arboreal mammals are usually deposited singly and without dung or in clumps of fecal material. After dispersal through defecation by mammals, most seeds are secondarily dispersed by dung beetles or consumed by rodents. These post-dispersal, plant-animal interactions are likely to interact themselves, as seeds buried by dung beetles are less likely to be found by rodents than unburied seeds. In a series of three experiments with seeds of 15 species in central Amazonia (Brazil), we determined (1) how presence and amount of dung associated with seeds influences long-term seed fate and seedling establishment, (2) how deeply dung beetles bury seeds and how burial depth affects seedling establishment, and (3) how seed size affects the interaction between seeds, dung beetles, and rodents. Our overall goal was to understand how post-dispersal plant-animal interactions determine the link between primary seed dispersal and seedling establishment. On average, 43% of seeds surrounded by dung were buried by dung beetles, compared to 0% of seeds not surrounded by dung (n=2,156). Seeds in dung, however, tended to be more prone than bare seeds to predation by rodents. Of seeds in dung, probability of burial was negatively related to seed size and positively related to amount of dung. Burial of seeds decreased the probability of seed predation by rodents three-fold, and increased the probability of seedling establishment two-fold. Mean burial depth was 4 cm (0.5–20 cm) and was not related to seed size, contrary to previous studies. Probability of seedling establishment was negatively correlated with burial depth and not related to seed size at 5 or 10 cm depths. These results illustrate a complex web of interactions among dung beetles, rodents, and dispersed seeds. These interactions affect the probability of seedling establishment and are themselves strongly tied to how seeds are deposited by primary dispersers. More generally, our results emphasize the importance of looking beyond a single type of plant-animal interaction (e.g., seed dispersal or seed predation) to incorporate potential effects of interacting interactions.     

Effects of sand burial depth and seed mass on seedling emergence and growth of Nitraria sphaerocarpa

A greenhouse experiment was conducted to test the effects of sand burial depth and seed mass on seedling emergence and growth of Nitraria sphaerocarpa. Seeds of Nitraria sphaerocarpa were sorted into three size-classes (large, medium, small) and artificially buried at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 cm depths in plastic pots filled with unsterilized sand. In the seven treatments, the percent emergence, seedling mass and seedling height, significantly affected by both burial depth and seed size, were highest at the optimal burial depth of 2 cm burial depth, and decreased with increasing burial depth in each seed size-class. Although seedling mass was usually greatest for large seeds and least for small seeds at each burial depth, little difference was observed in seedling height at shallow burial depths of 0–3 cm. In each seed size-class, with increasing burial depth, both root-mass ratio and aboveground stem-mass ratio decreased, while belowground stem-mass ratio increased. In each burial depth, with decreasing seed size, belowground stem-mass ratio increased, while root-mass ratio decreased.     

当归果翅对种子吸水与发芽进程的影响

研究当归果翅对其种子吸水及发芽进程的影响,旨在为当归规范化栽培提供理论和技术依据。以当归的双悬果果实和去翅种子作为试验材料,对其千粒重、含水量、体积、容重和吸水率进行测定,并在自然室温条件下进行种子发芽试验。结果表明:①当归双悬果去除果翅后,其千粒重减少了46.87%(P<0.01),体积减少了90.78%(P<0.01),容重增加了475.92%(P<0.01),含水量增加了20.15%(P<0.05);②当归果翅抑制了种子吸水吸胀的能力,果翅去除后能在2.48 h内进入稳定期,较去翅前提前了3.38 h,且吸水过程符合逻辑斯蒂方程;③当归果翅对种子发芽具有显著影响,果翅去除后发芽势、发芽率和发芽指数较未去翅种子分别提高了256.7%、12.28%和27.77%,均达到了极显著水平(P<0.01)。当归双悬果去除果翅后,减小了种子体积和重量,并促进了种子吸水吸胀能力,同时还有效地提高了种子的发芽质量。建议在生产中以去翅种子作为播种材料进行播种。     

Population dynamics of the shrub Acacia suaveolens (Sm.) Willd.: Fire and the transition to seedlings

Fire, through soil heating effects, causes flushes of seed germination in Acacia suaveolens. Optimal temperatures for germination are between 60 and 80°C for any duration, or up to 100°C for durations less than 1 h. Exposure to temperatures less than 60°C leaves seeds dormant and viable, whilst seed death occurs in increasing proportions with increasing exposure to temperatures greater than 80°C. A field study of temperatures in the soil under simulated burns showed that the innate seed dormancy in A. suaveolens would only be broken for seeds up to a depth of 1 cm in ‘cool’ or 4 cm in ‘hot’ burns. In the hot burns some of the seeds in the top 1 cm of the soil were killed by excessive heating. These simulated burns most resemble cool and moderate/high intensity wildfires, respectively. Seeds can emerge from depths up to 8 cm and, for any seeds buried deeper than this, the probability of emergence is progressively reduced down to nil at 14 cm. Seeds buried between 5 and 10 cm will be heated sufficiently to break their dormancy only in a very high intensity wildfire. Seeds buried between 5 and 10 cm deep mostly occur in nests of an ant, Pheidole sp. Field observations of emergent seedlings confirm that post-fire emergence is concentrated over a small range of soil depths directly related to the intensity and duration of heating that occurs, whilst occasional seedlings may appear from greater or lesser depths largely dependent upon the spatial heterogeneity of soil heating in natural fires.     

Ethylene as a possible cue for seed germination of Schoenoplectus hallii (Cyperaceae), a rare summer annual of occasionally flooded sites

The purpose of our research was to determine why seeds of Schoenoplectus hallii germinate only in some wet years. Seeds mature in autumn, at which time they are dormant. Seeds come out of dormancy during winter, if buried in nonflooded, moist soil, but they remain dormant if buried in flooded soil. Nondormant seeds require flooding, light, and exposure to ethylene to germinate. One piece of apple in water (1/12 of an apple in 125 mL of water in a glass jar for a depth of 5 cm) or a 1-μmol/L solution of ethephon elicited very similar (high) germination percentages and vigor of seedlings. Apple, which was shown to produce ethylene in the air space of the jar, was used in a series of experiments to better understand germination. Seeds germinated to 72% if apple was removed from the water after 1 d of incubation, and they germinated to 97% if seeds were washed and placed in fresh water after 3 d of exposure to apple. No seeds germinated in control with no apple. Seeds incubated in apple leachate for 5 d and then transferred to filter paper moistened with distilled water germinated to 90%. Minimum depth of flooding in apple leachate (no soil in jars) for optimum germination was ≥3 cm. Buried seeds of S. hallii exhibited an annual conditional dormancy/nondormancy cycle. Regardless of the month in which seeds were exhumed, they germinated to 59-100% in light in water with apple at daily alternating temperature regimes of 25°/15°, 30°/15°, and 35°/20°C, but germination at 20°/10°C (and to some extent at 15°/6°C) tended to peak in autumn to spring. Thus, seeds can germinate throughout the summer if flooded (ethylene production) and exposed to light. An ethylene cue for germination serves as a "flood-detecting" mechanism and may serve as an indirect signal that water is available for completion of the life cycle and competing species are absent.     

Breaking Setaria parviflora seed dormancy by nitrates and light is part of a mechanism that detects a drawdown period after flooding

We explored the hypothesis that, in flood-prone habitats, nitrates can signal to seeds that a drawdown period has begun. To investigate this issue, Setaria parviflora (Poir.) Kerguélen seeds were buried in a never-flooded upland and a nearby, flood-prone lowland grassland. Seeds were exhumed during the flooding period. Additionally, grassland mesocosms with buried S. parviflora seeds were flooded during 20 d (controls drained). After both field and mesocosm pretreatments germination was assayed in laboratory at 25 °C in a medium with or without nitrates, under red light pulses or in darkness. Seeds exhumed from the never-flooded upland showed no specific requirements to germinate. In contrast, seeds exhumed from the flooded lowland germinated ca. 65% when nitrates were combined with red light pulses, significantly higher than in the rest of the treatments. Seeds exhumed from drained mesocosms germinated equally in all treatments. However, in the seeds exhumed from the flooded mesocosms, nitrates increased germination by more than 20% compared with seeds imbibed in water. Seeds germinated ca. 85% when nitrates were combined with red light pulses, significantly higher than in the other treatments. We can conclude that after flooding, S. parviflora seeds require nitrate and light to germinate. Therefore, a large fraction of seeds do not germinate unless nitrates are combined with light, indicating a drawdown period after floods and vegetation gaps.     

Field fate of Amaranthus patulus seeds subjected to leaf-canopy inhibition of germination

Summary The germination of seeds of Amaranthus patulus Bertol., is known to be sensitive to leaf-transmitted light. Seeds were enclosed in transparent polyester-mesh envelopes and placed horizontally in 10-cm deep soil or on the soil surface, beneath a closed vegetation cover in the field. Changes in the numbers of firm intact seeds and of germinable seeds were traced for up to 3 years by periodical retrievals and germination tests. Rapid loss of germinable seeds, mainly due to germination, was observed in the buried seed population, in which only 20% of seeds maintained their germinability after 1 year, and a negligible number after 3 years. In contrast, the seeds placed on the soil surface maintained germinability relatively well: over 80% of seeds remained germinable after 1 year and a low percentage still preserved their germinability after 3 years. Assuming exponential decay in germinability, the decay rates on and in the soil were calculated from the data of the 1-year experiment to be 0.21 and 0.84 year^-1 respectively. The fate of seeds that were exposed to canopy light on the soil for a month and then buried was shown to be almost the same as that of the seeds which had been continuously in 10-cm deep soil. Correspondingly, the possibility of the induction of secondary (induced) dormancy by exposure to canopy light was excluded in a laboratory experiment, in which it was found that the imbibed seeds suffering leaf-canopy inhibition of germination exuded some diffusible germination inhibitor responsible for apparent dormancy. Estimation of numbers of A. patulus in the seed bank of an early successional field showed that 3,500 seeds/m² remained in the soil to the depth of 10 cm after 3 years' exclusion of the species following the production of 700,000 seeds/m², by a population explosively established after experimental induction of secondary succession.