New Zealand Journal of Botany abstract
Germination behaviour of the seeds of seven New Zealand woody plant species
C. J. BURROWS
Department of Plant and Microbial Sciences
University of Canterbury
Private Bag 4800
Christchurch, New Zealand
Abstract Germination rates, percentage germination success,
and phenomena related to germination delay were determined for seeds from
freshly collected fruit of Carpodetus serratus, Coprosma
lucida, Pittosporum eugenioides, P. tenuifolium,
Plagianthus regius, Pseudopanax arboreus, and P.
crassifolius. The experimental treatments simulated natural conditions that
the seeds might experience after dispersal.
The percentage germination success for all species in well-lit conditions was
very high (94-100%). The lengths of time before the start of germination and
for its completion differ for each species. The seeds of all species tested
germinated within a year.
Seeds of all species germinated in the dark, but usually germination rates
were slow and percentage success was relatively low. The same applied to seeds
placed on soil. Seeds left in the pericarp tissues failed to germinate except
for Plagianthus, Pseudopanax crassifolius, and one collection of
Pittosporum eugenioides.
The overall flexible germination behaviour accords well with the versatile
behaviour of these species as colonisers of open or shrubby habitats, as well
as their capacity for inhabiting closed forest communities.
Keywords seeds; germination tests; simulating nature;
germination delay; well spread germination
B95049
Received 16 October 1995; accepted 7 June 1996
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