Authors: Zhou, Zhi Qiong; Wu, Ning; Bao, Wei Kai; Qiu, Peng Fei

Source: Belgian Journal of Botany, Volume 141, Number 1, September 2008 , pp. 103-111(9)

Publisher: Royal Botanical Society of Belgium

Abstract:

Successful restoration of vegetation in dry valleys under strong anthropogenic disturbance in southwestern China is limited by lack of information on the germination requirements of many native plants, including some rose species. Effects of post-dispersal factors (temperature, moisture and light) on Rosa soulieana seed dormancy and germination were examined in order to predict the rate and timing of germination in the field. Dry storage, cold stratification, and warm plus cold stratification increased both germination percentages and germination rates. Warm plus cold stratification was most effective in breaking achene dormancy, followed by cold stratification and dry storage. Light during cold stratification had no effect on dormancy break. Germination occurred from 5°C to 30°C. At low temperature, diurnal alternating temperature (5/15°C) was more effective than constant temperature (5°C) in stimulating germination. Water stress significantly led to a decrease in germination percentage and rate. Significant differences under various photon irradiances were observed neither in germination percentages nor in germination rates. Temperature and moisture, but not light, appeared to play important roles in regulating dormancy and germination. Our results suggest that R. soulieana seeds may germinate sporadically from early spring to summer when soil moisture is sufficient for them to initiate this process. However, most achenes should normally germinate in the spring, which is a general phenomenon in plants. For effective restoration of degraded vegetation in dry valleys, it would be recommended to sow fresh achenes in autumn or achenes with dormancy broken in laboratory in early spring and relatively deep in the soil.

Keywords: DRY STORAGE; PHOTON IRRADIANCE; SEED DORMANCY; TEMPERATURE REGIME; WARM PLUS COLD STRATIFICATION; WATER POTENTIAL

Document Type: Regular paper

Publication date: 2008-09-01

More about this publication?

• The Belgian Journal of Botany (now known as Plant Ecology and Evolution) is an international journal open to all fields of plant sciences. Please note, however, that papers restricted to purely nomenclatural matters or to floristical data of only local interest will not be accepted. The Journal appears in one volume of two issues per year. It publishes reviews, original research papers, short notes, letters to the editor, and book reviews. Click here for current issues of this journal
• Editorial Board
• Information for Authors
• Submit a Paper
• Membership Information
• ingentaconnect is not responsible for the content or availability of external websites

Related content

• In this: publication
• By this: publisher
• In this Subject: Biotechnology ,  Botany ,  Ecology
• By this author: Zhou, Zhi Qiong ;  Wu, Ning ;  Bao, Wei Kai ;  Qiu, Peng Fei

Website © Publishing Technology. Article copyright remains with the publisher, society or author(s) as specified within the article.

• Terms and conditions
• Privacy policy
• Information for advertisers