Water limitation effect on seed development and germination in Trigonella coerulea (Fabaceae)

The annual garden spice legume Trigonella coerulea was subjected to controlled drought conditions to investigate the influence of resource limitation on flowering, seed production and germination. Limitations in water availability significantly reduced plant height and the number of fruits produced. However, treatments had no significant effect on seed set within the fruit. Fruit number per plant, rather than seed number per fruit was affected by resource limitation. Plants growing under water deficiency had higher flower abortion rates. Simultaneously, the size and germination rate of the seeds were decreased. In terms of reproductive success T. coerulea was not able to adapt reproduction to water shortage. Increase in moisture had no significant effect on seed quantity and quality when compared to the control.     

Genetic analysis of preharvest sprouting in a six-row barley cross

Preharvest sprouting (PHS) can be a problem in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) especially malting barley, since rapid, uniform, and complete germination are critical. Information has been gained by studying the genetics of dormancy (measured as germination percentage, GP). The objective of this study was to determine if the quantitative trait loci (QTLs) discovered in previous research on dormancy are related to PHS. PHS was measured as sprout score (SSc) based on visual sprouting in mist chamber-treated spikes and as alpha-amylase activity (AA) in kernels taken from mist chamber-treated spikes that showed little or no visible sprouting. GP was also measured. All traits were measured at 0 and 14 days after physiological maturity. Evaluation of the spring six-row cross, Steptoe (dormant)/Morex (non-dormant) doubled haploid mapping population grown in greenhouse and field environments revealed QTL regions for SSc, AA, and GP on five, four, and six of the seven barley chromosomes, respectively. In total, seven and eight regions on five and six chromosomes had effects ranging from 4 to 31% and 3 to 39% on PHS and dormancy, respectively. One chromosome 3H and three chromosome 5H QTLs had the greatest effects. All PHS QTLs coincide with known dormancy QTLs, but some QTLs appear to be more important for PHS than for dormancy. Key QTLs identified should benefit breeding of barley for a suitable balance between PHS and dormancy.     

Impact of different‐sized herbivores on recruitment opportunities for subordinate herbs in grasslands

Abstract. Potential effects of herbivores on plant species diversity depend on herbivore size, species and density. In this study we examine the effect of different‐sized herbivores (cattle and rabbits) on recruitment of subordinate herbs in grasslands. We show that in a grazed floodplain, grassland plant species richness is mainly determined by the presence of many species of subordinate herbs. These herbs experience high colonization and extinction rates. We conclude that the creation of colonization opportunities for subordinate herbs plays a crucial role in maintaining plant species richness in productive grasslands. We found that cattle disperse large amounts of seeds via their dung, over ten times more than rabbits. Rabbits create more and on average larger bare soil patches than cattle. In a field experiment artificial disturbances improved germination success tremendously for four tested herb species. We found that bare soil is the best regeneration site, while cattle dung gave a too strong nutrient stimulus, resulting in tall vegetation and therefore light limitation. These results can be confirmed with results from field monitoring plots where plant species richness was positively related to the occurrence of bare soil patches. Therefore both large and small herbivores have a major impact on dispersal and colonization, but for different reasons. Cattle are identified as most important for seed dispersal whereas rabbits have a main effect as creators of disturbances. These results emphasize the importance of distinguishing between herbivore species in assessing their (potential) effects.     

Germination ecology of the clonal herb Knautia arvensis: Regeneration strategy and geographic variation

Abstract. We investigated germination responses and seed recruitment in the clonal grassland herb Knautia arvensis (Dipsacaceae) throughout its distributional range in Norway. Four predicted relationships between germination responses and field regeneration behaviour were tested using phytotron experiments and experimental and observational field studies. Seedlings appeared in all experimental microsites in the field, corroborating phytotron predictions that gap‐ or depth‐sensing strategies should be absent in the species. Seasonal timing patterns were predicted from a cold stratification response in the phytotron, but these were not supported in the field. The relationship between dormancy, germinability during storage, and seed carry‐over in the field largely conformed to expectations. Seeds from four different geographical regions responded differently to temperature and cold stratification and storage. Dormancy and seed carry‐over was higher in seeds from a coastal population, where winters are relatively mild and the probability of repeated freeze‐thaw events is high, than in populations from mountain and inland areas, where winters are colder. This is discussed against two alternative hypotheses about the relationship between climate and dormancy in seasonal climates.     

玉米种子老化过程中EST同工酶变化与染色体畸变的研究

对玉米自交系Mo17种子分别进行58℃热水和45℃恒温老化处理并对种子老化过程中种子发芽率、EST同工酶酶谱变化与染色体畸变规律进行了研究。结果显示：Mo17玉米种子萌发一天的种子胚EST酶谱共表现为14条清晰条带,58℃热水处理30min后,有四条酶带(Rf值为0．44、0．47、0．77、0．80)消失,酶带号为1、2、6、7、9的五条酶带着色变浅。由一、二级酶带变为二、三级酶带。45℃恒温老化处理60d后,Mo17种子EST酶谱中编号为2和5的两条酶带(Rf值为0．33、0．39)消失。处理70d后,种子发芽率降至39％,醇带号为11、12、13、14的四条酶带消失。随着老化时间延长。老化程度不断加重,发芽率低的玉米种子其根尖染色体畸变率相对较高,单桥、双桥、断片、落后及其它染色体畸变类型均被观察到。58℃热水老化其发芽率降至5％时,染色体畸变率上升为12．22％。     

Inhibition of Chara vulgaris oospore germination by sulfidic sediments

The germinability of Chara vulgaris oospores collected from the sediments of four Ontario lakes varies considerably, ranging in germination percentage from 7% to 54%. Chemical analysis of the interstitial water of the sediments indicated that oospores with low germination occurred in lakes which have high acid volatile sulfides (H₂S, FeS, HS⁻) and high soluble Fe²⁺. The inhibitory effects of sediment on oospore germination were demonstrated by transplant experiments, and suggested that sulfide was the toxic agent. Exposure of high-germinating sedimentary oospores to free sulfide concentrations greater than 2.0 mM caused a greater than 30% reduction in oospore germination. The presence of sulfide in sediments was shown to result from sulfate reduction by bacteria in sediment pore water of those lakes where oospore viability was lowest. Differences in oospore germination percentage appear, therefore, to be due to the toxicity of H₂S produced in the sediment, either by a direct effect on the oospore, or on the parent plants.     

青阳参种子的萌发

青阳参（Cynanchum otophyllum）种子在11月成熟时有休眠习性。收获后将其种子种植在自然温室内,到第二年的春天种子才会萌发,且大多数种子在3月28至4月4日间萌发,这期间的日平均最高和最低温度分别为19．0℃和9．9℃。层积能有效地打破青阳参种子的休眠,休眠种子通过大约1周的层积便能萌发。种子在有光的条件下层积1周后转移到25／15℃的黑暗条件下萌发率可达到75．4％。青阳参种子不论在有光的条件下还是在黑暗环境中层积2～3周后转入30／20和25／15℃进行变温处理,其萌发率最低能达到66．4％,而转入20／10℃变温处理其萌发率最多只能达到20．1％,但若层积6周,即便在20／10℃变温处理的情况下其萌发率也可以达到65．3％以上。     

Modelling of parameters for optimization of maturity in composting trimming residues

In this paper, changes in physico-chemical parameters during trimmings residue composting (cation exchange capacity, germination index, self-heated, NH₄/NO₃ ratio and C_FA/C_HA ratio) in relation to environmental composting parameters (time, aeration, moisture and particle size) of the composting process were studied. A central composite experimental design was used to obtain the polynomial model for each dependent variable. Results of the modelling showed that among the studied range, moisture was the highest influenced parameter in maturity evaluation, with respect to aeration and particle size. An exception was found for CEC evolution. In this parameter, the highest influence was found for particle size. Moreover, a product with acceptable chemical properties entails operating at medium moisture content (55%) and medium-to-high particle size (3–5 cm). Moderate to low aeration (0.2 m³ air kg⁻¹ d⁻¹) would be the best compromise to composting this residue, due to the scarce statistical influence of this independent variable.     

蔷薇种子的休眠及解除方法

分析了蔷薇(Rosa L.)种子休眠原因、解除休眠方法以及环境条件对休眠与萌发的影响.蔷薇种子休眠的主要原因有瘦果果皮和种皮的限制作用,胚生理休眠以及果肉、瘦果果皮、种皮和胚中的抑制物质.解除休眠的方法包括去除瘦果果皮限制、解除胚的生理休眠、去除抑制物质等.种子发育过程中及成熟后,环境因子,如温度、水分和光照,对种子休眠和萌发有影响.此外,微生物、果实采集时间也对种子休眠及萌发有较大影响.蔷薇种子的休眠机制复杂,且种间差异很大.