The resource balance of Milium effusum with emphasis on environmental resource supply

Summary Growth of the broad-leaved graminoid Milium effusum, occurring in shady deciduous forests, was matched with periods of high light influx through the tree canopy in spring and autumn. Fertile shoots grew faster than sterile shoots. Leaves on flowering shoots were fully developed when the budbreak started on the trees, whereas nonflowering shoots had fully developed leaves when the tree canopy closed. Leaf concentrations of N and P were high (6.1 and 0.74% respectively) in spring but decreased as the leaves expanded. Maximum pool sizes of N and P in whole tillers were reached about one month after the onset of spring growth, whereas maximum spring pools of K, Mg, and Ca were timed with peak biomass about one month later. The leaves lost nutrients during summer when no growth took place. Since leaching losses were negligible, nutrients were probably allocated from the leaves to support root growth. Autumn reallocation to winter stores was low. The pattern of growth and nutrient use suggests that light availability, i.e., the resource in relatively lowest supply, regulates the investment of the resource in highest supply, i.e., nutrients. This is consistent with previously reported observations on Eriophorum vaginatum, a graminoid of low nutrient — high light environments. This species utilizes nutrients efficiently at the expense of less efficient acquisition of carbon. We suggest that selection for efficient utilization of the resource in lowest relative supply has been a strong driving force behind the physiological adaptation of both species to their environments.     

Geographic structure of genetic variation in the widespread woodland grass Milium effusum L. A comparison between two regions with contrasting history and geomorphology.

Allozyme variation in the forest grass Milium effusum L. was studied in 21-23 populations within each of two equally sized densely sampled areas in northern and southern Sweden. In addition, 25 populations from other parts of Eurasia were studied for comparison. The structure of variation was analysed with both diversity statistics and measures based on allelic richness at a standardised sample size. The species was found to be highly variable, but no clear geographic patterns in the distribution of alleles or in overall genetic differentiation were found, either within the two regions or within the whole sample. Thus, no inferences about the direction of postglacial migration could be made. Obviously, migration and gene flow must have taken place in a manner capable of randomising the distribution of alleles. However, there were clear differences in levels and structuring of the variation between the two regions. Levels of variation, both in terms of genetic diversity and allelic richness, were lower in northern Sweden as compared with southern Sweden. In contrast, different measures of geographic structure all showed higher levels of population differentiation in the northern region. This is interpreted as due to different geomorphological conditions in the two regions, creating a relatively continuous habitat and gene flow in the southern region as compared with the northern region where the species, although common, is confined to narrow and mutually isolated corridors in the landscape.     

Spatial Separation of Ancestral Genomes in the Wild Grass Milium montianum Parl.

Previous work showed a strong tendency for genomes from twodifferent parents to be spatially separated in cell nuclei ofseveral man-made F₁ hybrids between grass species. An importantquestion therefore is whether similar nonrandom genome dispositionoccurs in wild species. Milium montianum Parl. (2n = 22) isa naturally occurring allopolyploid grass combining two geneticallydissimilar chromosome sets (V and M genomes), each originatingfrom a different ancestral species. These two ancestral genomeswere easily discriminated as all V genome chromosomes were largerthan all M genome chromosomes. In two-dimensional spread preparations,the V genome derived from M. vernale Bieb. (2n = 8), and theM genome (of different but uncertain origin) showed a highlysignificant tendency to lie apart. Generally, the V chromosomestended to surround the M chromosomes in both mitotic and meioticnuclei suggesting that this arrangement persists throughoutplant development. Such nuclear organization is probably undergenetic control and may facilitate some independent behaviourof ancestral genomes in allopolyploids. Indeed it may play asignificant role in plant evolution and speciation, especiallyif different intranuclear positions (e.g. central or peripheral)are correlated with preferential phenotypic expression of ancestralgenes. Milium montianum Parl., Gramineae, allopolyploid, spatial chromosome disposition, ancestral genome separation, plant speciation and evolution     

Seed Germination of a Halophytic Grass Aeluropus lagopoides

Aeluropus lagopoides(Linn.) Trin. Ex Thw. (Poaceae) is a perennialgrass distributed from coastal Sindh and Balochistan to salineflats of Punjab, Pakistan. Seeds collected from an inland populationofA. lagopoides located on the University of Karachi campuswere germinated under various levels of salinity (0, 100, 200,300, 400 and 500 m M NaCl) and temperature regimes (10/20, 15/25,20/30 and 25/35 °C) in a 12 h dark/12 h light photoperiod.Highest germination was obtained under non-saline conditions,and an increase in NaCl concentration progressively inhibitedgermination. Inhibition of germination was greater at coolertemperatures (10/20 °C) when no seed germinated above aconcentration of 300 m M NaCl. The germination response at moderatetemperatures (20/30 °C) was optimal, with 30% of seeds germinatingin 500 m M NaCl. The rate of germination decreased as salinityincreased. Germination rate was highest at 20/30 °C andlowest at 10/20 °C. Seeds were transferred from salt solutionsto distilled water after 20 d and those from high salinitiesrecovered quickly at warmer temperatures with an optimal responseat 20/30 °C. Copyright 2001 Annals of Botany Company Aeluropus lagopoides, germination, halophyte, Karachi, salinity, temperature     

The Role of Tree Gaps in Maintaining the Population Structure of a Woodland Herb: Cynoglossum virginianum L.

Abstract Tree gaps may be important habitats for the establishment and spread of understory herbs in eastern (US) deciduous forests. Data from past studies, however, have not shown any clear patterns for either species diversity or increased percent cover. The lack of clear patterns of response to gaps by herbs may be due to evolutionary differences among species or, in part, due to the fact that most studies have been short-term and long-term patterns have, therefore, not been observed. In addition, few studies have considered the responses of individual genets and/or ramets. We have been conducting a long-term study of Cynoglossum virginianum , now in its 16th year, to determine subpopulation and individuals' responses in gap and non-gap habitats. A larger percentage of individuals flowered in the gap subpopulation shortly after it was created. Seed production rates were also higher in the gap subpopulation. The long-term benefits gained by the short-term flowering response have, however, been few as all but two of the seedlings produced within a few years of gap formation have died. In addition, all of individuals that flowered and produced seeds decreased in size and most have remained in the smaller size classes. In addition, only one of the individuals in the gap subpopulation has flowered since the initial flowering response while plants in non-gap subpopulations have flowered and produced seeds throughout the study period. Gaps may only be beneficial to C. virginianum if seeds are dispersed into non-gap areas or if seeds can remain dormant in the soil until conditions are more suitable for seedling survival.     

Photoinduced Seed Germination of Oenothera biennis L: I. General Characteristics

General characteristics of light-induced germination of Oenothera biennis L. seeds were investigated at 24°C. During dark imbibition, seeds reached maximal respiration in 7 hours and maximal water content and photosensitivity in 24 hours. After dark imbibition of 24 hours, seeds required a long exposure (>36 hours) to red or white light for maximal germination. Two photoperiods (12 and 2 hours) separated by a period of darkness of 10 to 16 hours gave near maximal germination. For the two photoperiod regime, the first light potentiates a reversible phytochrome response by the second light. A 35°C treatment for 2 to 3 hours in the dark immediately prior or subsequent to 8 hours of light caused a higher percentage of germination. A 2 hour treatment at 35°C also potentiates a reversible phytochrome response. Halved seeds germinated at 100% in light or darkness indicating that the light requirement of the seeds is lost in the halving procedure. After-ripened seeds required less light and germinated more rapidly and at higher percentages than seeds tested shortly after maturation.     

Germination of Tagetes minuta L. I. Temperature Effects

Initial studies have indicated that Tagetes minuta achenes haveboth a temperature and a light requirement for germination.Temperatures tested were 10, 20, 25, 30 and 35 °C. Germinationwas optimal at 25 °C under white light conditions. Underthese conditions 100 per cent of achenes germinated within 7days of imbibition. There was no germination at 10 or 35 °Ceither in the light or in the dark. Achenes imbibed and incubatedat 35 °C for 4 days showed no visible signs of germinationbut on transfer to 25 °C, 100 per cent of these achenesgerminated within 24 h. Furthermore, achenes given this hightemperature (35 °C) treatment could be dried at 25 °C,re-imbibed at 25 °C and again 100 per cent of achenes germinatedwithin 24 h of re-imbibition. This rapid germination responsefollowing removal from the high temperature regime could alsobe induced by transfer to temperatures of 20 °C or 20 °C(16 h) alternating with 10 °C (8 h). Tagetes minuta L., weed seeds, germination, temperature, light     

Reserve Mobilization During Germination of Tagetes minuta L.

Levels of albumins, globulins and starch were measured in dryTagetes minuta L. achenes (seeds) germinating at 25 °C andin those thermo-inhibited at 35 °C. In addition, the compositionof amino acids, fatty acids and free sugars was determined. In germinating seeds, albumins increased, while globulins decreased.At 35 °C, only a delayed decrease in globulins occurred.However, in both, the amino acids serine and glutamate increased.Lipid composition remained constant except for a slight declinein linoleic acid in the germinating seeds. At 25 °C, starchlevels increased with time while at 35 °C, there was onlya transient increase. Sucrose was the major free sugar foundin the seeds at all times, but its levels declined in the germinatingseeds. This was accompanied by an increase in the proportionsof glucose and fructose. No such changes in sugar compositionwere observed in the thermo-inhibited seeds. Tagetes minuta L., seed germination, reserve mobilization, thermo-inhibition     

Germination of Tagetes minuta L. II. Role of gibberellins

The effect of the application of gibberellins to Tagetes minuta L. achenes (seeds) was determined at both 25°C, the optimal germination temperature, and 35°C, at which temperature the achenes are thermoinhibited. Both GA₃ and GA₄₊₇ accelerated germination at 25°C. Seed germination at 25°C was inhibited by paclobutrazol, but on subsequent application of GA₄₊₇ rapid germination was induced. Following application of GA₃ or GA₄₊₇ to thermoinhibited seeds, a significantly higher final germination percentage was observed than in the distilled water control. However, endogenous gibberellin levels in germinating and thermoinhibited seeds did not differ significantly.     

观赏草丽色画眉种子萌发特性研究

丽色画眉(Eragrostis spectabilis)在中国作为一种观赏草引种栽培,但有研究报道丽色画眉具有潜在的杂草入侵风险.通常成功的外来杂草有很强的繁殖能力,而丽色画眉种子的萌发特性如何,目前尚无人研究.本文通过培养皿和盆栽实验研究温度、光照、水分、土层深度对丽色画眉种子萌发的影响.以发芽率和发芽指数为评价指标的结果显示,丽色画眉种子最适萌发温度为35℃.应用种子萌发温度模型得出种子萌发温度范围为17.7 ～43.2℃,其中最适萌发温度为39.2℃.光照有利于种子萌发,与连续黑暗相比连续光照显著提高种子发芽率.PEG6000模拟的水分胁迫对丽色画眉种子的萌发有显著的抑制作用,水势降低到-0.8 Mpa时,种子已经不能完成萌发.0.5 cm是种子萌发的理想深度,0～1 cm的土层适宜色画眉种子的萌发,发芽率不低于60％,在土层1～4 cm范围内,随着土层深度的增加其萌发率显著降低.     

Delayed Germination in Reed Canary-Grass Phalaris arundinacea L.

Dormancy in reed canary-grass can be overcome by removing thepalea from the caryopsis, by scarifying the seed, or by prickingthe palea with a pin. The dormancy appears to be due to a water-solubleinhibitor which is present either in the caryopsis or the embryo. There is apparently an interaction between the inhibitor andoxygen, as the effect of the inhibitor passes off quickly underconditions of good aeration. It is possible that free oxygenmay be required to act as hydrogen acceptor in an aerobic dehydrasesystem. Inhibitory effect of the aqueous extract is only shownin the light; when caryopses are germinated in aqueous extractof caryopses in darkness no inhibition of germination is found.The inhibitor has no effect on the germination of lettuce seed. These feature are discussed in relation to other work on seeddormancy and the means of improving germination in the field.     

Germination of the photoblastic seeds of Ocimum tenuiflorum L.

Seeds of Ocimum tenuiflorum L. are positively photoblastic. Photosensitivity of seeds spreads throughout the tested temperature range (14–38°C). Treatment with suboptimal and relatively supraoptimal temperatures before placing the seeds at optimal temperature led to an interesting germination pattern. Gibberellic acid, although causing the seeds to germinate in dark, failed to overcome the low temperature block to germination both in light and dark. Prolonged darkness induced skotodormancy in seeds. Low temperature and gibberellic acid alone or in conjunction with red light failed to restore light sensitivity. Most interestingly a prolonged continuous exposure to red light enabled the seeds to overcome the skotodormancy. Significance of this adaptation in perpetuation of the species in its natural environments is discussed.     

Germination of Pistacia vera L. pollen in liquid medium

Summary The osmotic effect of Polyethylene glycol (PEG) has been shown to be sufficient to induce the germination of Pistacia vera L. pollen in liquid medium. The prehydration of the pollen in a saturated atmosphere for approximately 10 h was necessary to obtain maximum in vitro germination. Imbibition of the pollen in water resulted in the rapid leakage of solutes into the medium. These solutes consisted of approximately 50% carbohydrates, of which sucrose (0.65 mol/mg), glucose (0.77 mol/mg) and fructose (0.78 mol/mg) were the major sugars; the remaining 50% comprised proteins with the following major molecular weights 63 kDa, 60 kDa, 59 kDa, 40 kDa, 36 kDa, 35.5 kDa, 31 kDa, other organic matter and minerals.     

Germination ecology of Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. and Ambrosia trifida L. biotypes suspected of glyphosate resistance

The germination ecology of Ambrosia artemisiifolia and A. trifida glyphosate susceptible biotypes sampled in marginal areas, was compared with that of the same species but different biotypes suspected of glyphosate resistance, common and giant ragweed, respectively. The suspected resistant biotypes were sampled in Roundup Ready® soybean fields. Within each weed species, the seeds of the biotype sampled in marginal area were significantly bigger and heavier than those of the biotype sampled in the soybean fields. A. artemisiifolia biotypes exhibited a similar dormancy and germination, while differences between A. trifida biotypes were observed. A. artemisiifolia biotypes showed similar threshold temperature for germination, whereas, the threshold temperature of the susceptible A. trifida biotype was half as compared to that of the resistant A. trifida biotype. No significant differences in emergence as a function of sowing depth were observed between susceptible A. artemisiifolia and suspected resistant A. trifida biotype, while at a six-cm seedling depth the emergence of the A. artemisiifolia susceptible biotype was 2.5 times higher than that of the A. trifida suspected resistant biotype. This study identified important differences in seed germination between herbicide resistant and susceptible biotypes and relates this information to the ecology of species adapted to Roundup Ready® fields. Information obtained in this study supports sustainable management strategies, with continued use of glyphosate as a possibility.     

Seasonal Periodicity in Germination of Seeds of Chenopodium album L.

Seeds of Chenopodium album L. were buried under field and controlledconditions. The germination capacity of these seeds was testedover a range of conditions at regular intervals. Seed buriedin the field only showed small seasonal changes in germinationcapacity when tested at constant temperatures in incubators.However, when germination was tested at field temperatures,seasonal changes in germination were more obvious. Nitrate andlight always promoted germination. There was a strong positiveinteraction between the effects of the two factors. When nitrateand light were combined, exhumed seeds germinated over a muchlonger period of the year than in water with or without light.Desiccation only stimulated under particular conditions, forexample, when germination was tested in nitrate in darkness.A regression model was developed with the data from the germinationtests in incubators. The model describes the changes in dormancyand germination and estimates germination at field temperaturesaccurately throughout the year. Despite the absence of clearseasonal changes in the temperatures suitable for germination(computed with the model), germination in the field showed seasonalperiodicity, because the field temperature and the germination-temperaturerange only overlapped from spring to late summer.Copyright 1993,1999 Academic Press Chenopodium album, lamb's quarters, dormancy pattern, germination, regression model, temperature, light, nitrate, desiccation