Assessing Posidonia oceanica Seedling Substrate Preference: An Experimental Determination of Seedling Anchorage Success in Rocky vs. Sandy Substrates

In the last decades the growing awareness of the ecological importance of seagrass meadows has prompted increasing efforts to protect existing beds and restore degraded habitats. An in-depth knowledge of factors acting as major drivers of propagule settlement and recruitment is required in order to understand patterns of seagrass colonization and recovery and to inform appropriate management and conservation strategies. In this work Posidonia oceanica seedlings were reared for five months in a land-based culture facility under simulated natural hydrodynamic conditions to identify suitable substrates for seedling anchorage. Two main substrate features were investigated: firmness (i.e., sand vs. rock) and complexity (i.e., size of interstitial spaces between rocks). Seedlings were successfully grown in culture tanks, obtaining overall seedling survival of 93%. Anchorage was strongly influenced by substrate firmness and took place only on rocks, where it was as high as 89%. Anchorage occurred through adhesion by sticky root hairs. The minimum force required to dislodge plantlets attached to rocky substrates reached 23.830 N (equivalent to 2.43 kg), which would potentially allow many plantlets to overcome winter storms in the field. The ability of rocky substrates to retain seedlings increased with their complexity. The interstitial spaces between rocks provided appropriate microsites for seedling settlement, as seeds were successfully retained, and a suitable substrate for anchorage was available. In conclusion P. oceanica juveniles showed a clear-cut preference for hard substrates over the sandy one, due to the root system adhesive properties. In particular, firm and complex substrates allowed for propagule early and strong anchorage, enhancing persistence and establishment probabilities. Seedling substrate preference documented here leads to expect a more successful sexual recruitment on hard bottoms compared with soft ones. This feature could have influenced P. oceanica patterns of colonization in past and present time.     

Natural rock roughness as a key parameter for optimizing seedling adhesion and restoration of the seagrass Posidonia oceanica in its native environment

Seagrasses provide various ecosystem functions in coastal areas of the world. In the Mediterranean Sea, Posidonia oceanica is an endemic species threatened by several activities despite being protected by national and international laws. Currently, several transplanting initiatives have been carried out using different methods, among which those including seeds and seedlings are considered the most ecological and low-cost ones. Beach-cast fruits and seeds can be found in spring and their appearance can easily be reported, through a citizen science approach, by the community. One of the obstacles in using these methods is identifying the best substrate in which to place P. oceanica seeds to facilitate root adhesion of the seedlings prior to their transplantation into the sea. In the present study, we analyzed, using a 3D surface optical microscope, the roughness of natural rocks to identify the availability of specific roughness ranges suitable for adhesion and root anchoring of P. oceanica seedlings. Conventional roughness parameters and roughness power spectral density were calculated for the inner and outer surfaces of 9 different rock samples. Among the rock samples examined, the calcarenitic ones and in particular marsala calcarenite, due to the presence of the “ideal roughness for seedlings” can be considered one of the best consolidated substrates to be used for the construction of ad hoc devices on which plantlet of P. oceanica can grow for the purpose of restoration.     

Comparison of Morphological and Anatomical Characteristics of <i>Taxus chinensis</i> var. <i>mairei </i>Seedlings Root under Waterlogging Stress in Different Substrates

Four different ratios of river sand, ceramic pellets, vermiculite and perlite (1:1), and field soil were selected as the substrates in this experiment, and four gradient levels of root waterlogging, half waterlogging, full waterlogging and normal were set to investigate the effects of different gradients of waterlogging stress on the root morphology of Taxus chinensis var. mairei seedlings under different substrates. In this study, the root anatomical structure of Taxus chinensis var. mairei under different waterlogging stress was observed by the paraffin section method. The roots of T. chinensis var. mairei were diarch, with no pith and resin canals. There was a large number of tannins in the pericycle of the aerial adventitious roots of seedlings adapted to waterlogging. Also, the endodermis has obvious casparian strip thickening, and there were 4-5 layers of large parenchymatous cells in the close to the inner side of the pericycle in the vascular cylinder, which could increase the storage capacity, and transport capacity of the root. Under the treatment of root waterlogging stress, the development of plant roots in the mixed substrate of vermiculite and, perlite was the earliest. Under half waterlogging stress, T. chinensis var. mairei seedlings treated with various substrates all could better adapt to the environment of waterlogging stress. Under the stress of fully waterlogging, the roots of seedlings planted in river sand substrate developed secondary growth.     

Mechanical resistance by an ectorganic soil layer on root development of seedling Pinus sylvestris

We investigated early root development of Pinus sylvestris seedlings in relation to bulk density and natural particle layering in an ectorganic soil layer from a bracken (Pteridium aquilinum) stand. Responses in root development to two levels of bulk density (0.07 and 0.15 g/cm³) in mixed bracken substrate were compared with effects in peat of similar bulk densities, and in sand of three different bulk densities (0.37, 0.52, and 0.67 g/cm³). The effect on root growth of the natural horizontal layering of the organic particles was examined by comparing intact with mixed ectorganic bracken soil profiles of similar bulk densities (resp. 0.09 and 0.07 g/cm³).Root length growth was significantly reduced in the organic and sandy substrates of high bulk density. Root diameter was not affected by bulk density in the organic substrate, but increased with higher bulk density in sand. Preservation of horizontal layering in the intact ectorganic profile significantly reduced root length compared with mixed substrate of similar bulk density.Roots growing in high bulk density, and intact, organic substrate showed increased twisting, which resulted in a smaller depth reached by the root relative to total root length produced. In sand, root twisting did not change with increased bulk density. It is suggested that roots growing through organic substrate follow a path of least resistance. This implies that organic particle size and orientation are more important in determining root development than bulk density.This study points out that the natural layering of organic particles presents another constraint on the establishment of plant species in sites with a well-developed ectorganic soil layer. Disturbance of this layer may therefore enhance establishment of seedlings by reducing the mechanical resistance of the ectorganic soil profile to developing seedling roots.     

Biomechanical Response of the Root System in Tomato Seedlings under Wind Disturbance

Wind disturbance as a green method can effectively prevent the overgrowth of tomato seedlings, and its mechanism may be related to root system mechanics. This study characterized the biophysical mechanical properties of taproot and lateral roots of tomato seedlings at five seedling ages and seedling substrates with three different moisture content. The corresponding root system-substrate finite element (FE) model was then developed and validated. The study showed that seedling age significantly affected the biomechanical properties of the taproot and lateral roots of the seedlings and that moisture content significantly affected the biomechanical properties of the seedling substrate (p < 0.05). The established FE model was sensitive to wind speed, substrate moisture content, strong seedling index, and seedling age and was robust. The multiple linear regression equations obtained could predict the maximum stress and strain of the root system of tomato seedlings in the wind field. The strong seedling index had the greatest impact on the biomechanical response of the seedling root system during wind disturbance, followed by wind speed. In contrast, seedling age had no significant effect on the biomechanical response of the root system during wind disturbance. In the simulation, no mechanical damage was observed on the tissue of the seedling root system, but there were some strain behaviors. Based on the plant stress resistance, wind disturbance may affect the growth and development of the root system in the later growth stage. In this study, finite element and statistical analysis methods were combined to provide an effective approach for in-depth analysis of the biomechanical mechanisms of wind disturbances that inhibit tomato seedlings’ growth from the root system’s perspective.     

沙埋对中间锦鸡儿幼苗生长发育的影响

在沙地环境中,沙埋是影响植物幼苗存活的一个重要因素。中间锦鸡儿(C arag ana interm ed ia)是浑善达克沙地和毛乌素沙地固定和半固定沙丘上常见的一种沙生灌木。为了研究沙埋对其幼苗存活以及生长的影响,对出土后生长了1个月的中间锦鸡儿实生苗进行沙埋实验,实验处理:TC为对照,T1为沙埋幼苗地上部的1/3,T2为沙埋幼苗地上部的1/2,T3为沙埋到幼苗的近顶端。实验持续4周,每周收获1次。结果表明:TC、T1和T2没有幼苗死亡,T3有20%的幼苗死亡;沙埋对中间锦鸡儿幼苗的生物量、根冠比、根生物量比和茎生物量比有显著影响,叶片生物量比各处理没有显著差异,沙埋对幼苗的叶面积没有显著影响,在第1周T2和T3的小叶片面积显著大于TC,在其余3周,TC与T1、T2的小叶片面积没有显著差异,与全埋则有显著差异;沙埋对幼苗的相对生长速率(RGR)和净同化速率(N AR)产生显著影响,实验结束时,T3处理幼苗的RGR和N AR显著地小于其它3个处理。上述结果表明,部分沙埋(T1、T2)对沙生灌木中间锦鸡儿幼苗的生长发育没有显著的影响,而全部沙埋(T3)对其幼苗的生长发育产生显著的抑制,中间锦鸡儿是一个比较耐沙埋的物种。     

SUBSTRATE HETEROGENEITY AND REGENERATION OF A SWAMP TREE,NYSSA AQUATICA

We investigated physical characteristics of several substrate types in a South Carolina riverine swamp forest, and the effect of those characteristics upon germination and seedling growth of the dominant swamp tree, Nyssa aquatica (water tupelo). Substrates were categorized as emergent (surfaces of trees, living cypress knees, stumps, or logs), protected (submerged sediment adjacent to an emergent object), or open (sediment > 50 cm from any emergent object and fully submerged during the growing season). Water tupelo seeds germinated best (>25% in 16 days) on emergent substrates, but seed predation was extremely high on these same substrates. Substrate types differed significantly in permanence and in rates of sediment loss or deposition. Growth rates of transplanted seedlings did not differ among substrate types. The results suggest that mortality due to erosional scour or impermanent rooting zones, superimposed on germination patterns, is responsible for the observed nonrandom distribution of woody plant seedlings among substrate types in the swamp forest.     

Primary and Lateral Root Development of Dark- and Light-Grown Cotton Seedlings under Salinity Stress*

Primary root growth dynamics and lateral root development of dark- and light grown cotton seedlings (Gossypium hirsutum L., cv. Acala SJ-2) were studied under control and salinity stress conditions. The seedlings were grown by two methods: A) in paper-lined, vermiculite-filled beakers with the plants growing between the paper and the glass wall (Gladish and Rost, 1993), and B) in hydroponics after germination and initial growth in germination paper rolls saturated with the treatment solutions (Kent and Läuchli, 1985). After germination, daily primary root elongation rate gradually incrased to a maximum, then gradually declined to close to zero for dark-grown seedlings, or to sustained rates of about 10 mm per day for light-grown control plants. Salinity stress delayed primary root growth and reduced peak elongation rates, without changing the general primary root growth pattern. These results suggest that salinity changed the time-scale, but did not modify the normal developmental sequence. Lateral root growth was more inhibited by salinity than primary root growth. In addition, elongation of lateral roots was more inhibited by salinity than their initiation and emergence. Light exposure of the shoot favored both sustained primary root growth from 7 days after planting, and lateral root emergence and growth. Salinity effects were more severe on seedlings germinated and grown in hydroponics (method B) than on vermiculite-grown plants (method A). These results emphasize the importance of growing conditions for the NaCl-induced effects on cotton root development. In addition, the differential effects of salinity on primary and lateral roots became evident, pointing to diverse control mechanisms for the development of these root types.     

Inorganic Nutrient Supplements Constrain Restoration Potential of Seedlings of the Seagrass,Posidonia australis

Seed represents a potentially ecologically sustainable source of planting units for restoring seagrasses, particularly for seagrasses where transplanting negatively impacts donor beds. However, newly germinated seeds may be nutrient limited as their underdeveloped root systems may constrain capacity to access sediment‐based resources. We conducted a study in land‐based aquaculture tanks to determine whether early growth of newly germinated Posidonia australis seedlings could be enhanced by adding inorganic nutrients to the sediment. Sediments were supplemented with nitrogen and phosphorus in a factorial design (no nutrients, N, P, N + P). Shoot survival, whole shoot biomass, root morphology, root architecture, and nutrient concentration of seedlings were assessed monthly for the first 4 months after germination. More than 90% of seedlings survived during the 4 months of the experiment, irrespective of nutrient treatment. Growth of P. australis seedlings was not enhanced by addition of N or P to the sediment despite nutrient uptake occurring. Seedling growth was found to be more dependent on seed nutrient reserves rather than external nutrient sources for at least the first 4 months after germination. Adding inorganic nutrients to the sediment also significantly reduced the development of the seedling root system in terms of biomass, length, and density of lateral root branches. This study demonstrated that inorganic nutrient supplements constrain root development and therefore capacity for successful anchorage of seagrass seedlings, and pose a significant limitation on seedling establishment when transferred to the field, as well as potentially limiting natural and transplanted seedling establishment in eutrophic sediments.     

Effect of tissue wounding and time of soil inoculation on pepper root rot development

Five-week-old pepper plants with wounds created on stems and roots were transplanted to soils having inoculum of Phytophthora capsici incorporated for different lengths of time. Disease severity (39.99%) on root trimmed seedlings was not significantly different (P ≤ 0.05) from the severity (36.24%) obtained on stem lacerated seedlings. The wound treatments did not result in significantly different rates of lesion extension per day; stem lacerated seedling had the fastest, 1.99 mm/day lesion extension rate, followed by 1.90 and 1.89 mm/day extension rates obtained on root trimmed and unwounded treatments, respectively. However, time of soil inoculation had significant effect on severity; root trimmed and stem lacerated treatments had 46.3% and 39.8% severities, respectively. Tissue wounding × time of soil inoculation interaction did not have significant effect on disease severity; stem lacerated seedlings transplanted to 1-day and 3-day inoculated soils gave highest severity (49.9%), followed by seedlings inoculated at the time of transplantation. Root trimmed seedlings inoculated at the time of transplantation had highest severity (61.1%), while the lowest severity was obtained on seedlings transplanted to 5-day inoculated soil.     

Resistance of red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle L.) seedlings to deflection and extraction

Red mangrove (Rhizhophora mangle L.) is the dominant tree species in the intertidal zone of ecosystems on the Atlantic shores of the Caribbean and tropical western Atlantic. The propagules of this species are initially buoyant, becoming negatively buoyant before rooting in a variety of substrates. After establishment, these seedlings form aerial roots, leading to communities of plants with complex networks of stems and aerial roots. While established mangrove communities assist in stabilizing coastlines, seedlings are susceptible to wave, current and wind energy and this limits the habitats that they can successfully colonize. In this experiment, the mechanical resistance of seedlings growing at five locations with different substrate and canopy conditions was tested. The 78 seedlings tested ranged in height from 27 to 47 cm, had between one and ten pairs of leaves but had not yet formed aerial roots. Seedlings were pulled horizontally. The reaction force at 20° deflection in four cardinal directions and then force to failure in the landward direction was measured. Seventy-five percent of the seedlings failed in the root system. The remainder failed near the base of the stem. Larger seedlings were more likely to fail at the roots. Seedlings growing outside of mangrove overstory on coral rubble were 3.5 times more strongly anchored than those growing within the mangrove overstory on sand. In spite of directional loading by waves and on-shore breezes, the deflection resistance did not vary systematically with pulling direction. Seedling anchorage varies among locations with different overstory and substrate conditions, likely due to differences in competition and acclimation to wind and wave energy along with differences in rooting among substrates.     

Seed longevity and fire: post‐germination responses of Rumex acetosella L. in northwest Patagonian grasslands (Argentina)

The cosmopolitan herb Rumex acetosella forms persistent soil seed banks and increases in cover after fire. We investigated how the interaction between seed age and fire affects seedling growth by exposing different‐aged seeds to heat, smoke, charcoal, and ash treatments. We measured growth of germinated seedlings that were transplanted and allowed to grow for 65 days in a greenhouse. Seedlings from seeds >8 years old did not reach an appropriate radicle length for transplantation. Seedling growth decreased with increasing temperature of the heat treatment. As seed age increased, growth decreased with smoke and charcoal, and increased with ash treatment. Height was negatively correlated with seed age. Our results suggest that fire and seed age could affect demographic responses of R. acetosella seedling populations. Post‐fire recruitment could be partially favored by the positive effect of nutrient input from ash on seedling growth. High fire intensities, however, would be detrimental to seedling vigor.     

Experimental Evaluation of the Restoration Capacity of a Fish‐Farm Impacted Area with Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile Seedlings

Marine aquaculture is an activity that has induced severe local losses of seagrass meadows along the coastal areas. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the capacity of an area degraded by fish‐farm activities to support Posidonia oceanica seedlings. In the study site, a bay in the southeast coast of Spain where part of a meadow disappeared by fish‐farm activities, seedlings inside mesh‐pots were planted in three areas. Two plots were established in each area, one in P. oceanica dead matte and another inside a P. oceanica meadow. To evaluate if sediment conditions were adequate for the life of the seedlings, half of them were planted in direct contact with the sediment and the other half were planted above the surface of the sediment in each plot. Monitoring during 1 year showed that there were large differences in seedling survival between the dead matte and the P. oceanica meadow. While seedlings planted in dead matte had a high survivorship after 1 year (75%), seedlings planted in P. oceanica progressively died (survivorship of 20% after 1 year). The average leaf length of the seedlings surviving in the two substrata was not different, but the leaf area per seedling was lower in the seedlings growing inside the P. oceanica meadow during most part of the year. Seedling survivorship and vegetative development were not affected by the level of planting and suggest that the sediment conditions are adequate for the life of P. oceanica seedlings.     

Lulwoana sp., a dark septate endophyte in roots of Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile seagrass

Posidonia oceanica is the most common, widespread and important monocotyledon seagrass in the Mediterranean Basin, and hosts a large biodiversity of species, including microorganisms with key roles in the marine environment. In this study, we ascertain the presence of a fungal endophyte in the roots of P. oceanica growing on different substrata (rock, sand and matte) in two Sicilian marine meadows. Staining techniques on root fragments and sections, in combination with microscope observations, were used to visualise the fungal presence and determine the percentage of fungal colonisation (FC) in this tissue. In root fragments, statistical analysis of the FC showed a higher mean in roots anchored on rock than on matte and sand. In root sections, an inter‐ and intracellular septate mycelium, producing intracellular microsclerotia, was detected from the rhizodermis to the vascular cylinder. Using isolation techniques, we obtained, from both sampling sites, sterile, slow‐growing fungal colonies, dark in colour, with septate mycelium, belonging to the dark septate endophytes (DSEs). DNA sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region identified these colonies as Lulwoana sp. To our knowledge, this is the first report of Lulwoana sp. as DSE in roots of P. oceanica. Moreover, the highest fungal colonisation, detected in P. oceanica roots growing on rock, suggests that the presence of the DSE may help the host in several ways, particularly in capturing mineral nutrients through lytic activity.     

Effects of invasive benthic macroinvertebrates on assessment methods of the EU Water Frame Work Directive

The assessment of the ecological status of aquatic ecosystems for the implementation of the European Water Framework Directive is based on different methods, many of which include the study of macroinvertebrate organisms. We examined whether and how invasive species affect the calculation of metrics used for fresh water assessment utilizing data from different substrate types in the streams of Central Germany. In these streams, the proportion of macroinvertebrate invasives increased from a very low fraction of the community up to 75% of species, or 96% of individuals, within 15 years. The values of the German Saprobic Index (GSI, reflecting the degree of organic load) did not differ significantly between different substrate types or within the examined stream reaches. However, saprobic valences of the species recorded did differ between substrates and between localities. This obvious contradiction is caused by an abundance of exotic species all having a medium GSI index between 2.2 and 2.3. Moreover, the minimum total number of organisms required for this method cannot be reached for a large majority of the sites dominated by invasives making it impossible to use the GSI. Regarding distribution of zonation types, the proportion of metarhithral species is low, and it is even lower on hard substrates than it is on soft substrates. This contradicts the general assumption that dwellers preferring metarhithral reaches (=lower-trout region) will show an affinity for habitats with higher oxygen concentrations and stronger flow velocities, both appearing more on hard than on soft substrates. This latter contradiction results from the classification of the most abundant invasive species Potamopyrgus antipodarum, Dikerogammarus villosus, and Chelicorophium curvispinum in the AQEM taxa reference list. The metrics ‘locomotion type’ and ‘feeding type’ were also affected by the presence of invasive species. Possible options for overcoming these assessment problems are discussed.     

Interactive effects of substrate,hydroperiod, and nutrients on seedling growth of Salix nigra and Taxodium distichum

The large river swamps of Louisiana have complex topography and hydrology, characterized by black willow (Salix nigra) dominance on accreting alluvial sediments and vast areas of baldcypress (Taxodium distichum) deepwater swamps with highly organic substrates. Seedling survival of these two wetland tree species is influenced by their growth rate in relation to the height and duration of annual flooding in riverine environments. This study examines the interactive effects of substrate, hydroperiod, and nutrients on growth rates of black willow and baldcypress seedlings. In a greenhouse experiment with a split-split-plot design, 1-year seedlings of black willow and baldcypress were subjected to two nutrient treatments (unfertilized versus fertilized), two hydroperiods (continuously flooded versus twice daily flooding/draining), and two substrates (sand versus commercial peat mix). Response variables included height, diameter, lateral branch count, biomass, and root:stem ratio. Black willow growth in height and diameter, as well as all biomass components, were significantly greater in peat substrate than in sand. Black willow showed a significant hydroperiod–nutrient interaction wherein fertilizer increased stem and root biomass under drained conditions, but flooded plants did not respond to fertilization. Baldcypress diameter and root biomass were higher in peat than in sand, and the same two variables increased with fertilization in flooded as well as drained treatments. These results can be used in Louisiana wetland forest models as inputs of seedling growth and survival, regeneration potential, and biomass accumulation rates of black willow and baldcypress.     

Culture of isolated zygotic embryos of Pinus radiata D. Don. Part II: Biochemical changes associated with the conversion of isolated embryos

Summary Isolated zygotic embryos of Pinus radiata D. Don germinated and their cotyledons, hypocotyl and root grew and developed further on the optimized culture medium, named LPSH2 based on the accompanying paper. The resulting plantlets appeared normal, but were one-third the size of the natural seedlings grown on water-agar medium only. When the isolated embryos were cultured on water-agar medium, they grew little and more importantly root development did not occur. Studies on biochemical changes during germination and early seedling growth showed that the patterns of changes in soluble sugar and starch content were generally different between isolated embryos and seedlings. Early on during culture the cotyledons and hypocotyls of natural seedlings had higher levels of soluble sugars and starch than the counterparts of the isolated embryos grown on the LPSH2-medium. Conversely, the root of the isolated embryos contained more soluble sugars and starch than that of the seedlings throughout the 3 wk of culture. However, little difference was found between the isolated embryos and seedlings as far as total protein concentrations and their sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) protein profiles were concerned.     

Seedling establishment patterns on the Pumice Plain,Mount St. Helens,Washington

Abstract. We examined the factors that control seedling establishment on barren substrates on the pyroclastic flows from Mount St. Helens. From June to September in 1993, we monitored seedling and microhabitat changes in 240 20 cm × 20 cm quadrats on the Pumice Plain. Seedlings emerged in 104 quadrats (43.3 %). The most abundant species were Anaphalis margaritacea, Hypochaeris radicata, Lupinus lepidus and Epilobium angustifolium. Measured site characteristics included topography, particle size distribution, ground surface movements, soil water content, organic matter, pH, and presence or absence of dead lupines. Quadrats with seedlings had higher cover of dead lupines, higher amount of rock and gravel substrate, and a greater cover of rills. More seedlings emerged where eroded material accumulated. Compared to coarse-textured surfaces, silt surfaces had higher organic matter, held more water, and showed higher pH. However, seedlings became established more frequently on coarse-textured surfaces. In greenhouse experiments, a higher percentage of Hypochaeris seeds germinated on silt than on sand or gravel. The germination of Anaphalis and Epilobium did not differ with soil texture, but was higher at higher moisture levels. Seedling colonization is more dependent on ground surface microtopography, particle size, and ground movement than on the chemical status of these volcanic deposits.     

Calcium and calmodulin inhibitor effects on the growth of carrot (Daucus carota L.) and radish (Raphanus sativus L.) in nutrient culture

Growth of carrot and radish seedlings in nutrient culture was inhibited by pretreatment with three calmodulin inhibitors. There was little selective effect on specific organs, shoots, tap root and fibrous roots over a range of concentrations. Although pretreatment with CaCl₂ (0.5 mM) did not affect growth of untreated seedlings, it partially reduced the inhibitory effects of trifluoperazine over the concentration range 0.01–0.05 mM. Trifluoperazine reduced the growth of GA₃-treated seedlings but did not overcome the modifying effect of GA₃ in favouring shoot/root ratio; ABA exacerbated its inhibitory effect on overall seedling growth and particularly on tap root development.Abbreviations GA₃ gibberellic acid - ABA abscisic acid - CaCl₂ calcium chloride - GAs gibberellins - Tfp trifluoperazine     

Roles of cottony hairs in directed seed dispersal in riparian willows

Willows usually establish on wet substrates with fine sediments at sites that are created by large disturbances, but suitable microsites are spatially and temporally limited. Thus, we hypothesized that willow seeds are selectively dispersed to suitable microsites, such as those with a wet substrate, rather than unsuitable microsites, such as those with a dry substrate, with seedling establishment mediated by the cottony hairs attached to seeds (directed dispersal). To test our hypothesis, we compared several recruitment-related traits, including buoyancy, germination, and trapping at favorable microsites, in seeds of the riparian willows Salix sachalinensis and S. integra with and without cottony hairs in laboratory and field experiments. In both field and laboratory experiments, more seeds with cottony hairs were trapped in water and wet sand than in dry sand, in which no seeds of either species germinated. These results indicate that cottony hairs facilitate the recruitment of seeds to microsites favorable for seed germination and help seeds avoid unfavorable microsites. On the water surface, 17.6% of S. sachalinensis seeds and 68.0% S. integra seeds with cottony hairs floated for more than 6 days, whereas all seeds without cottony hairs sank immediately after being placed on the water surface. These results suggest that cottony hairs facilitate long-distance dispersal via flowing water and also help avoid germination under water, where willow seedlings fail to establish. Seeds of the two willow species were released from the cottony hairs and germinated immediately after the seeds were placed on wet sand, but not after placement on water or dry sand. These results suggest that the seeds are released from the cottony hairs when the hairs become wet and the seeds are striking to a suitable microsite for seedling establishment, such as wet sand. In riparian willows, the cottony hairs promote directed dispersal by moving seeds to discrete and predictable microsites where the seedling establishment is disproportionately high.