青藏高原东部高寒草甸54种禾本科植物种子的萌发特性

在实验室条件下观测了青藏高原东部高寒草甸54种禾本科植物的种子萌发特点。结果发现:在54种植物中,有43种植物种子萌发率都达到了50%,其中萌发率80%以上的物种有26种,60%~80%的有11种,40%~60%的有8种,20%~40%的有5种,小于20%的有4种; 萌发开始时间为3~5 d的植物有14种,6~8 d的植物有29种,9~10 d的植物有10种,大于10 d的有1种;萌发持续时间为1~7 d的植物有16种,8~14 d的植物有28种,15~21 d的有10种;达50%萌发率的时间为1~7 d的植物有11种,8~14 d的植物有27种,大于14 d的植物有5种,萌发率一直没达到50%的植物有11种。这些植物显示了4种萌发类型:爆发型、过渡型、缓萌型(萌发率大于50%的物种)和低萌型(萌发率小于50%的物种)。     

青藏高原东缘灌木种子的萌发特性

种子萌发和种子大小是植物生活史中的两个关键性特征,它关系到幼苗的建成、存活、竞争和个体未来的适合度。对青藏高原东缘43种灌木（12种优势种,31种常见种）种子的萌发特性、萌发模式以及种子大小对萌发能力的影响进行了比较研究。结果显示,萌发率在80%以上的物种：优势种有3种（鲜卑花、千里香杜鹃和山生柳）,占25%;常见种有1种（白毛银露梅）,占3.23%。萌发率在60%～80%的物种：优势种有1种（中国沙棘）,占8.33%;常见种有12种（红毛杜鹃、蒙古绣线菊、短叶锦鸡儿等）,占38.71%。萌发率在40%～60%的物种：优势种有1种（锥花小檗）,占8.33%;常见种有5种（暴马丁香、密叶锦鸡儿和肋果沙棘等）,占16.13%。萌发率在20%～40%的物种：优势种有2种（烈香杜鹃和小叶金露梅）,占6.45%;常见种有1种（紫丁香）,占3.23%。萌发率在20%以下的物种：优势种有5种（置疑小檗、高山绣线菊和岩生忍冬等）,占41.67%;常见种有12种（甘肃小檗、刚毛忍冬、陕甘花楸等）,占36.36%。优势种和常见种的萌发主要有爆发型、过渡型、缓萌型和低萌型。优势种具有较多的过渡型和缓萌型种,有较少爆发型和低萌型种;常见种中过渡型、缓萌型和低萌型物种比例均在30%左右,爆发型仅有3.32%。优势种中的爆发型要多于常见种,而低萌型的种要少于常见种。萌发率和萌发速率与种子大小呈显著的负相关关系,萌发开始时间和萌发持续时间与种子大小有较弱的关联性。     

中、旱生植物萌发特性及其与种子大小关系的比较

不同生境的植物有不同的生活史对策。该文对分布于河西走廓的42种常见中生植物和22种常见旱生植物种子的萌发特性以及种子大小对萌发能力的影响进行了比较。结果显示,64种植物中最终萌发率超过90%的有9种: 虎尾草(Chloris virgata)、蒲公英(Taraxacum mongolicum)、腺独行菜(Lepidium apetalum)、膜果麻黄(Ephedra przewalskii)、沼生蔊菜(Rorippa islandica)、白草(Pennisetum centrasiaticum)、霸王(Zygophyllum xanthoxylon)、反枝苋(Amaranthus retroflexus)和黑果枸杞(Lycium ruthenicum),占14.06%,其中黑果枸杞、腺独行菜、膜果麻黄、虎尾草的萌发在10 d内完成; 萌发率达到80%~90%的有5种: 毛果群心菜(Cardaria pubescens)、窄叶小苦荬(Ixeridium gramineum)、牛蒡(Arctium lappa)、鞑靼滨藜(Atriplex tatarica)和苣荬菜(Sonchus brachyotus)占7.8%; 萌发率达到60%~80%的有16种,占25%;萌发率在20%~60%的有17种,占26.56%; 萌发率不足20%的有17种: 柠条锦鸡儿(Caragana korshinskii)、野苜蓿(Medicago falcata)、扁蓄(Polygonum aviculare)、苦参(Sophora flavescens)、河西沙拐枣(Calligonum potanini)、白刺(Nitraria tangutorum)、甘草(Glycyrrhiza uralensis)、苦豆子(Sophora alopecuroides)、骆驼蓬(Peganum harmala)、画眉草(Eragrostis pilosa)、多裂骆驼蓬(Peganum multisectum)、老瓜头(Cynanchum komaroviil )、骆驼蒿(Peganum nigellastrum)、田旋花(Convolvulus arvensis)、酸模叶蓼(Polygonum lapathifolium)、卷茎蓼(Polygonum convolvulus)、蝎虎驼蹄瓣(Zygophyllum mucronatum),占25.56%。有26种植物的萌发持续在30 d以上,15种植物在15 d内完成萌发,有31种植物在1~3 d内开始萌发,4种植物在10 d以后才开始萌发。主成分分析和聚类分析显示,中、旱生植物的萌发主要有爆发型、过渡型、缓萌型和低萌型,以过渡型和缓萌型为主;中生植物中萌发率不足20%的有6种,占14.28%, 旱生植物中萌发率不足20%的有11 种,占50%,显示了较多的旱生植物有延迟萌发的行为,这种萌发的延迟及萌发时间的异质性可使物种在不可预测、高死亡风险的环境中仍能确保种的延续。中生植物的种子大小对萌发能力有显著的影响,小种子的物种有较高的萌发率和较快的萌发速率,并且完成萌发所需要的时间较短,而旱生植物的种子萌发不受种子大小的影响。以上结果说明中生植物和旱生植物长期适应于不同的湿、旱生环境,在不同的选择压力下,生活史对策也出现了较明显的差异。     

青藏高原东缘61种常见木本植物种子萌发特性及其与生活史的关联

为了评价亚高山地带木本植物种子萌发对策及其与生活史关联, 该文对青藏高原东缘61种常见木本植物的种子萌发特征以及种子萌发与种子大小、扩散方式、海拔及生境的关系进行了调查分析。结果表明: 1) 61种植物的种子萌发率呈现偏斜、双峰分布。6种植物(9.8%)的种子萌发率大于80%, 13种(21.3%)的萌发率在60%~80%之间, 9种(14.8%)的萌发率在40%~60%之间, 8种(13.1%)的萌发率在20%~40%之间, 25种(41%)的萌发率小于20%, 其中8种植物的种子萌发率为零, 显示了该生境中木本植物的种子以休眠、低萌发率或连续稳定的萌发对策占优势, 以避免不利的环境因素。2)种子扩散方式是决定61种木本植物种间萌发率变异(R² = 24.1%, p < 0.001) 和萌发开始时间变异(R ²= 21.3%, p < 0.01) 的主要因素; 种子大小、母体植株的海拔和生境对种子萌发率和萌发开始时间几乎没有影响(p > 0.05); 风扩散的种子比脊椎动物扩散和无助扩散的种子有更高的萌发率(F = 9.219, p < 0.001) 和较早的萌发开始时间(F = 6.772, p < 0.01)。说明植物生活史特征如种子萌发与扩散方式之间存在固有而紧密的联系, 扩散能力强的种子(如风扩散)由于能散布到较远而空旷的生境, 可能避免了各种有害因素或个体竞争, 因而种子以较强的萌发能力进行拓殖; 扩散能力弱的种子(如无助扩散)由于其散布距离较近, 种子以休眠或降低萌发的方式来避免个体或同胞竞争以及各种有害因素, 以获得最大的生态利益并确保物种延续。     

陕北黄土丘陵沟壑区14种植物的萌发特性

在实验室条件下观测了陕北黄土丘陵沟壑区14种植物的萌发特性,结果发现：萌发率在80%以上的植物有杠柳、铁杆蒿和茭蒿;在60%～80%之间的物种有白羊草、紫丁香、阿尔泰狗娃花、大针茅、沙棘和猪毛蒿;长芒草为37.3%;小于20%的植物有达乌里胡枝子、刺槐、虎榛子和狼牙刺。14种植物的萌发时滞最短的为2 d,最长的为8 d;几乎所有植物种子达到T50的时间都在其萌发开始后的7 d以内,且大部分物种在萌发开始后的15 d完成总萌发量的90%;萌发持续时间最短的为6 d,有刺槐、狼牙刺、虎榛子、沙棘4种,最长的为猪毛蒿,达32 d。这些植物种子的萌发特性及生态适宜性决定了它们在陕北黄土丘陵沟壑区植被演替中的角色与地位。     

青藏高原东缘31种常见杂草种子萌发特性及其与种子大小的关系

以青藏高原东缘31种常见杂草(禾本科、菊科和紫草科)植物种子为对象,在野外实验条件下,观测了其萌发特性,并对其萌发模式以及种子大小和萌发特征的关系进行了分析,以期对当地的杂草防治提供理论依据.结果表明,这些植物种子的萌发模式可以分为以下4种类型:爆发型、过渡型、缓萌型和低萌型.其中过渡型和缓萌型所占比例最大(各占32.3%),爆发型次之(25.8%),低萌型最小(9.7%).高峰萌发率与种子大小呈显著负相关,萌发高峰时间与种子大小呈显著正相关,萌发率、萌发指数与种子大小呈较弱的负关联,萌发开始时间与种子大小呈较弱的正关联,萌发持续时间与种子大小几乎无相关关系.     

储藏方式和时间对三峡水库消落区一年生植物种子萌发的影响

为了明确不同储藏方式和储藏时间对三峡水库消落区4种1年生植物稗(Echinochloa crusgalli)、苍耳(Xanthium sibiricum)、合萌(Aeschynomene indica)和水蓼(Polygonum hydropiper)种子萌发能力的影响,筛选出有利于其萌发的最佳储藏方式及时间,采取5种储藏方式(室温、冷藏、冷冻、干沙、湿沙)、8个储藏时间段(30、60、90、120、150、180、210、240d)对种子进行储藏实验。在光照培养箱昼25℃/夜20℃和周期性光照(昼12h/夜12h,光强100μmol·m-·2s-1)条件下进行种子萌发,每次萌发持续时间为30d。结果显示:(1)稗、苍耳和水蓼的种子在湿沙储藏条件下萌发起始时间缩短,种子萌发率、萌发指数高于其它储藏方式;湿沙储藏条件下,稗的种子储藏90-180d萌发率达到80%以上,苍耳的种子储藏180d萌发率达(64±2)%,水蓼的种子储藏30-240d萌发率均超过90%。(2)冷冻储藏能有效地解除合萌种子休眠,显著提高其种子萌发率和发芽指数;冷冻储藏90-180d合萌的种子萌发率均超过80%,之间没有显著差异。(3)果皮是限制苍耳种子萌发的主要因素之一,而去除果皮对合萌种子萌发没有显著影响。研究结果建议:采用种子来进行消落区植被恢复和重建时,稗、苍耳和水蓼的最佳储藏方式是湿沙储藏,合萌的最佳储藏方式是冷冻储藏。结合三峡水库水位调度原则,在适宜的储藏方式下,本实验中储藏120-180d的种子能够应用于消落区实地播种中。     

青藏高原东缘11种小檗属(Berberis)植物种子萌发特性

在实验室条件下研究了青藏高原东缘11种小檗属(Berberis)植物的种子萌发特性,并分析了种子萌发能力与种子大小和海拔之间的关系。结果表明,11种植物中,仅有5种植物(金花小檗、匙叶小檗、锥花小檗、鲜黄小檗和刺黄花)种子萌发率超过50%,其中金花小檗最高(86.7%);有2种植物(巴东小檗、华西小檗)种子始终没有萌发,其余4种植物种子萌发率均在10%以下;种子萌发开始时间均在10d以后,匙叶小檗种子萌发的持续时间最长(40d)。11种植物种子萌发率、萌发速率、萌发持续时间与种子大小均呈显著负相关,而萌发开始时间与种子大小之间具有显著的正相关关系。萌发率、萌发速率、萌发持续时间与海拔均有较弱的正关联,萌发开始时间与海拔有较弱的负关联。     

埋藏对65种半干旱草地植物种子萌发特性的影响

比较了半干旱草原科尔沁沙地65种植物新采种子和埋藏1年种子的萌发特性.结果表明：埋藏1年后,有38种植物的种子仍具有活力.新采种子萌发率>80%的植物种子埋藏后萌发率下降；而萌发率<80%的植物种子埋藏后萌发率均有较大幅度的提高.埋藏对种子萌发特性的影响因植物生态类群(杂草、草原植物、草甸植物、沙生植物)而异.种子埋藏1年后,多年生植物萌发率没有明显提高,而1年生植物萌发率显著提高(P<0.05).对于新采种子和埋藏1年种子萌发率间相差10%以下的物种,可根据萌发格局将植物种分为3类：埋藏促进型(如差巴嘎蒿)、埋藏抑制型(如大籽蒿)和埋藏不变型(如鹤虱).     

科尔沁沙地31种1年生植物萌发特性比较研究

在实验室条件下观测了科尔沁沙地乌兰敖都地区 1年生植物当年新采种子的萌发特点。在 3 1种植物中 ,7种植物包括大籽蒿、虎尾草、冠芒草、刺沙蓬、曼陀罗、龙葵、地锦的发芽率超过 80 % ,9种植物包括苍耳、水稗草、狗尾草、虱子草、沙米、灰绿藜、野西瓜苗、太阳花、鹤虱的发芽率不足 10 %。 1～ 3 d开始发芽的 18种植物包括大籽蒿、黄蒿、虎尾草、毛马唐、画眉草、冠芒草、野大豆、黄花草木樨、网果葫芦巴、沙米、雾冰藜、碱地肤、刺沙蓬、苘麻、野西瓜苗、马齿苋、苋菜、地锦。超过 10 d基本不发芽的 5种植物包括苍耳、狗尾草、虱子草、灰绿藜、太阳花。发芽持续期小于 10 d的 12种植物包括毛马唐、水稗草、画眉草、沙米、雾冰藜、苘麻、野西瓜苗、益母草、马齿苋、龙葵、地锦、鹤虱 ;发芽持续期超过 2 1d的 6种植物包括大籽蒿、黄蒿、冠芒草、黄花草木樨、刺沙蓬、碱蓬。高发芽率植物的发芽进程线显示了 3种萌发格局 :速萌型 ,包括虎尾草、地锦、曼陀罗、龙葵 ;缓萌型 ,包括刺沙蓬 ;中间型 ,包括大籽蒿、冠芒草     

生物结皮对5种不同形态的荒漠植物种子萌发的影响

生物结皮广泛分布于干旱、半干旱区, 强烈影响着土壤表层理化特性, 进而对种子散布、萌发和定居产生影响。目前关于生物结皮与植物种子萌发关系的研究结论存在争议。该文通过室内人工控制实验, 研究了生物结皮对古尔班通古特沙漠5种具不同种子形态特征的荒漠植物白梭梭(Haloxylon persicum)、蛇麻黄(Ephedra distachya)、角果藜(Ceratocarpus arenaarius)、涩芥(Malcolmia africana)和狭果鹤虱(Lappula semiglabra)的种子萌发的影响。结果表明, 在干燥和湿润两种条件下, 生物结皮对不同形态植物种子萌发均具有不同的作用。在干燥条件下, 生物结皮显著抑制了角果藜和涩芥种子的萌发(p<0.05), 对其它3种植物无显著影响; 而湿润条件下, 生物结皮显著抑制了白梭梭、角果藜和狭果鹤虱种子的萌发(p<0.05), 对蛇麻黄、涩芥则无显著影响。     

Seed development in the rare cold desert sand dune shrub Eremosparton songoricum and a comparison with other papilionoid legumes

No study has yet been carried out on seed development in a cold desert sand dune papilionoid legume. Thus, our primary aims were to (i) monitor seed development in the cold desert sand dune species Eremosparton songoricum from the time of pollination to seed maturity, and (ii) compare seed development in this species with that in other species of papilionoid legumes. Fruit and seed size, mass and seed moisture content, and seed imbibition, germination, desiccation tolerance and water retention during development (pollination to seed maturity) were monitored in the papilionaceous shrub E. songoricum in the Gurbantunggut Desert of northwest China. The duration of seed development was 40 days. Seeds reached physiological maturity 28 days after pollination (DAP), at which time 58% of them germinated and they had developed desiccation tolerance. Seeds became impermeable 36–40 DAP, when their moisture content was about 10%. The final stage of maturation drying occurred via loss of water through the hilum. The developmental stages and their timing (DAP) in seeds of E. songoricum are generally similar to those reported for other papilionaceous legumes with a water‐impermeable seed coat (physical dormancy). In general, the developmental features of seeds with water‐impermeable coats at maturity do not appear to be specific to habitat or phylogeny.     

Are fungi important for breaking seed dormancy in desert species? Experimental evidence in Opuntia streptacantha (Cactaceae)

Seeds of Opuntia spp. have physiological dormancy; they need a period of after-ripening to break dormancy, and the embryos have low growth potential. We evaluated the combined effects of seed age and presence of fungi on the testa on germination of Opuntia streptacantha, an abundant species in the Chihuahuan Desert (Mexico), assuming that older seeds have broken seed dormancy and fungi can reduce mechanical resistance to germination. In a preliminary experiment, we found no germination of 9-year-old (1998) and freshly collected (2007) seeds. However, we obtained 67% and 27% germination from 9-year-old and fresh non-sterilized seeds, respectively, and found fungi growing on the testa of all germinated seeds. Two fungal strains were isolated and identified using ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence analysis: Penicillium chrysogenum and Phoma sp. In a second experiment, we inoculated seeds with strains of P. chrysogenum and Phoma sp., as well as Trichoderma koningii and binucleate Rhizoctonia (Gto17S2), to evaluate their ability to break seed dormancy. Seeds inoculated with P. chrysogenum, Phoma sp. and T. koningii had higher germination than controls for both seed ages, but germination was higher in older seeds. Scanning electron microscopy showed that these fungi eroded the funiculus, reducing its resistance. Binucleate Rhizoctonia did not lead to germination and controls had almost no germination. Our results strongly indicate that fungi are involved in breaking seed dormancy of O. streptacantha, and that the effect of fungi on seeds is species-specific.     

冻融过程对荒漠短命植物种子萌发的影响

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

The role of seed germination in the invasion process of Honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos L., Fabaceae): comparison with a native confamilial

Identifying plant traits that promote invasiveness has been a major goal in invasion ecology. Germination plays a central role in the life cycle of plants and therefore could be a key trait in determining species invasiveness. In this study, seed germination of two confamilial, co‐occurring species that share ecological characteristics, the exotic invasive Gleditsia triacanthos L and the native Acacia aroma Gillies ex. Hook. & Arn., was compared. Seeds were obtained from individuals of three localities in the Chaco Serrano region of Córdoba, Argentina. Percent of seed germination and mean germination time were recorded in chemically and mechanically scarified seeds, and the former variable was also recorded in seeds subjected to: passage through the digestive tract of dispersers, fire simulations, fire simulation plus mechanical scarification, seed longevity, and dormancy break over time. In general, both species showed similar germination percentage. However, non‐scarified seeds of the exotic species lost physical dormancy when subjected to experiments of dormancy break over time, whereas, the native species had shorter mean germination time. The greater percentage of seed germination over time of the exotic species than of the native one might be triggering the spread of the former, whereas the shorter mean germination time might be hindering its expansion to more arid regions. The study of different mechanisms for achieving seed germination, particularly in hard seed species, could provide important information on the expansion of invasive species as well as useful knowledge for their management.     

Effect of temperature, light and salinity on seed germination and radicle growth of the geographically widespread halophyte shrub Halocnemum strobilaceum

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The small leafy succulent shrub Halocnemum strobilaceum occurs in saline habitats from northern Africa and Mediterranean Europe to western Asia, and it is a dominant species in salt deserts such as those of north-west China. The effects of temperature, light/darkness and NaCl salinity were tested on seed germination, and the effects of salinity were tested on seed germination recovery, radicle growth and radicle elongation recovery, using seeds from north-west China; the results were compared with those previously reported on this species from 'salt steppes' in the Mediterranean region of Spain. METHODS: Seed germination was tested over a range of temperatures in light and in darkness and over a range of salinities at 25 degrees C in the light. Seeds that did not germinate in the NaCl solutions were tested for germination in deionized water. Seeds from which radicles had barely emerged in deionized water were transferred to NaCl solutions for 10 d and then back to deionized water for 10 d to test for radicle growth and recovery. KEY RESULTS: Seeds germinated to higher percentages in light than in darkness and at high than at low temperatures. Germination percentages decreased with an increase in salinity from 0.1 to 0.75 M NaCl. Seeds that did not germinate in NaCl solutions did so after transfer to deionized water. Radicle elongation was increased by low salinity, and then it decreased with an increase in salinity, being completely inhibited by > or = 2.0 M NaCl. Elongation of radicles from salt solutions < 3.0 M resumed after seedlings were transferred to deionized water. CONCLUSIONS: The seed and early seedling growth stages of the life cycle of H. strobilaceum are very salt tolerant, and their physiological responses differ somewhat between the Mediterranean 'salt steppe' of Spain and the inland cold salt desert of north-west China.     

不同居群准噶尔无叶豆果实和种子特性及种子萌发差异

研究准噶尔无叶豆(Eremosparton songoricum) 6个居群间果实和种子特性及种子萌发差异, 以揭示异质生境下准噶尔无叶豆果实和种子的生态适应机制。结果显示: 居群间准噶尔无叶豆的植株距离(F = 2.34, p = 0.03)和植株冠幅(F = 8.49, p < 0.01)存在显著差异, 沙漠北缘E、F居群和沙漠腹地C居群(受人类干扰剧烈)的植株距离和植株冠幅高于沙漠腹地A、B、D居群; 居群间准噶尔无叶豆果实和种子的长度、宽度、厚度、重量存在显著差异, 居群E、F和C的大部分参数显著高于其他沙漠腹地居群; 居群间果实多子性(F = 6.96, p < 0.01)也存在显著差异, 居群C的果实多子性最高((32.50 ± 4.79)%); 萌发结果表明, 居群间新鲜的成熟种子萌发不存在显著差异, 且萌发率都低于15%; 所有居群的大部分种子都存在物理性休眠现象, 人为划破种皮能显著提高种子萌发率, 但在低温(15/5 ℃)条件下, 所有居群的种子萌发率都较低, 说明低温抑制了种子萌发; 经人为划破种皮解除物理休眠后, 种子的休眠没有完全释放, 居群C、E和F (大种子居群)的种子萌发率显著高于居群A、B和D (小种子居群) (F = 30.77, p < 0.01), 说明准噶尔无叶豆种子不仅存在物理性休眠现象, 也可能存在生理休眠现象。不同程度的种子复合休眠可能是准噶尔无叶豆不同居群适应古尔班通古特沙漠的重要生存策略。     

Effect of light on seed germination and seedling shape of succulent species from Mexico

Aims Light requirements for cactus seed germination have been considered to be associated with their adult plant height and seed mass, but this has not been thoroughly studied for other succulent species. In order to understand seed photosensitivity from desert species belonging to Asparagaceae (subfamily Agavoideae) and Cactaceae, we performed a germination experiment with and without light for 12 species and 2 varieties from 1 species from the Southern Chihuahuan Desert. We also determined if adult growth is totally determined by seedling 'growth form' in cacti.Methods We performed a germination experiment using light and darkness for 13 species from Southern Chihuahuan Desert: 10 rosette species (Asparagaceae), as well as 1 globose, 1 columnar and 2 varieties from 1 depressed-globose species (Cactaceae). The response variables were seed germination percentage and relative light germination (RLG). In addition, in order to determine if adult-globose cacti could have cylindrical seedlings, we calculated the shape index (height/width ratio) for Coryphanta clavata and Mammillaria compressa .Important findings All species were considered neutral photoblastic. Eleven species had similar seed germination in both light and dark conditions, and three taxa (M. compressa and the two varieties of Ferocactus latispinus) showed higher germination with light than without it. Agave salmiana, M. compressa and the two varieties of F. latispinus had higher RLG than the other species. Seed mass was an important factor because with higher seed mass there was lower dependence to light. These findings support the hypothesis that small seed mass and light requirements have coevolved as an adaptation to ensure germination. One adult-globose cactus species, M. compressa, and one adult-columnar species, C. clavata, had small seeds and neutral fotoblasticism. Seedlings from these two species exposed to light were cylindrical and those under darkness conditions were columnar. Perhaps seeds from this species are able to germinate in the dark because they produce columnar seedlings with the ability to emerge from greater soil depths where sunlight cannot penetrate.     

The effects of osmotic pre-sowing treatment on laboratory germination in a range of wild flower species

Sown seed of many wild flower species have slow or delayed germination which can allow unsown and undesirable species to colonise a prepared site. Ideally all seed sown should germinate immediately. Priming seed in an inert osmoticum can improve synchronisation and speed of germination. The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of priming on a selection of 60 wild flower species from a total of 21 different families. The majority of the species selected were common constituents of commercial seed mixtures. Seeds were primed in the light at 15^CC for 14 days in a polyethylene glycol ‘6000’ solution giving an osmotic potential of either -10 or -15 bars. Priming had a highly significant effect on speed of germination reducing the median germination time by 2.8 ± 0.27 days in the -10 bar treatment and 1.6 ± 0.27 days in the -15 bar treatment. At the species level, 28 species had significantly reduced median germination times following priming. Priming significantly enhanced the final germination percentage in 15 species and significantly reduced it in eight species, with the adverse effect being more pronounced at -15 bars than at -10 bars. Non-hierarchical cluster analysis showed no clear patterns in response to priming either in relation to the comparative ecology or the plant family of the species tested, with the possible exception of the Leguminosae species. Only one out of six members of this family showed any enhancement in germination rate or percentage. The study demonstrates that a priming treatment could improve speed of germination, in a wide range of commonly sown semi-natural grassland species.     

环境因子对陕西羽叶报春种子萌发及成苗的影响

陕西羽叶报春（Primulafilchnerae）是百年绝迹、曾被植物界视为可能绝灭的二年生草本植物,其种子萌发和成苗是其种群续存的前提,也是其园林开发时繁育工作的理论依据。本研究发现,陕西羽叶报春种子细小,25℃、低光（2700Ix）和当年采集种子是其萌发的最适条件。然而,该条件的成苗率仅25％左右,成苗／萌发比也比其它处理低。29℃高温下陕西羽叶报春种子存在一定程度的休眠,赤霉素（GA。）处理后萌发率虽显著增加,始萌发时间缩短,但高浓度（200mg／L）GA。处理使种子成苗率和成苗／萌发比显著降低。经过2个多月的高温高湿（29℃下萌发）处理后,将未萌发的种子重新在最适温度25℃下萌发,发现它们的萌发率不受影响,但始萌发时间显著缩短。以上结果说明陕西羽叶报春种子成熟后,及时采收并适当让其高温休眠一段时间,萌发时先用低浓度（20mg／L）GA。处理,不但可以显著提高萌发率,而且可提高成苗率和成苗／萌发比。