Germination ecology of drupelets of the fig (Ficus carica L.) |
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Authors: | MARCELLO LISCI ETTORE PACINI |
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Affiliation: | Department of Plant Biology, University of Florence, Via G. La Pira 4 1–50121 Florence, Italy;Botany Section, Department of Environmental Biology, University of Siena, Via P.A.Mattioli 4, 1–53100, Italy |
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Abstract: | Abiotic and biotic factors and their effects on germination of fig drupelets were studied. The drupelets germinated between 10oC and 30oC.Constant humidity was necessary for germination and frequent drying out of the substrate was unfavourable. Total darkness for the whole duration of the experiments had a slighly negative effect on germination. The fastest germination occurred at constant humidity and an alternating temperature of 20/30oC with exposure to light for 8 hours (at the higher temperature) and to darkness for 16 hours (at the lower temperature).Natural or artificial removal of drupelets from the syconium guaranteed a high germination percentage, whereas no germination occurred in drupelets left inside the syconium. Hence birds and mammals act as dispersal agents and mediators of germination. As they eat pieces of fig syconium, they free the drupelets from the flesh, eliminating the effect of inhibitors and/or microenvironments with high osmotic pressure inside the syconium. These findings support the hypothesis that germination occurs in autumn or spring depending on the climatic zone in which the species grows. |
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Keywords: | Abiotic and biotic factors dispersal agents Moraceae syconium ripening |
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