Seedling establishment of two shrubby plants native to the Sierra Nevada mountain range

The Sierra Nevada mountain range near the Mediterranean Sea is an unique environment known for the variety of endemic species. Nevertheless, an alpine ski station situated on the mountain has dramatically affected the landscape, leaving some areas barren. In an effort to restore the vegetation cover, laboratory experiments were conducted with seeds of Genista versicolor Boiss and Reseda complicata Bory, two shrubby plants native to Sierra Nevada. Using different concentrations of two plant growth regulators, Ethrel and N⁶-benzyladenine, seeds from both species were planted in soil sampled from the alpine ski resort. Surprisingly, both Ethrel and N⁶-benzyladenine significantly improved seedling establishment. Consequently, seedling pre-treatment with definite plant growth regulators could be a useful approach to revegetation of the Sierra Nevada mountain range.