New Zealand Journal of Botany abstract
Germination behaviour of seeds of the New Zealand woody species Ascarina
lucida, Coprosma grandifolia, Melicytus lanceolatus, and
Solanum laciniatum
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 of
Ascarina lucida, Coprosma grandifolia, Melicytus
lanceolatus, and Solanum laciniatum, taken from freshly collected
fruit. The experimental treatments simulated natural conditions that the seeds
could experience after dispersal.
In a treatment where seeds were cleaned, kept moist, and well-lit, most
germinated in autumn-winter and percentage germination success was high
(91-100%) for all species. Seeds of each species germinated moderately to very
well (56-100%) on soil. The same applied to Ascarina and Solanum
seeds in the dark but success for Coprosma and Melicytus was
lower (30% or less). Solanum and Melicytus seeds survived burial
(5 cm depth) for nearly 18 months. Replanted at the soil surface, all
Solanum and 44% of Melicytus seeds germinated. After being kept
dry for c. 5 months most Solanum seeds germinated (96%), those of
Melicytus moderately well (68%), and those of Coprosma poorly
(8%). Success for seeds tested in-fruit was moderate (48%) for Ascarina,
low (20%) for Melicytus, and very poor (4-12%) for the other two
species.
Keywords seeds; germination tests; simulating nature; winter
germination; high percentage success
B95050b
Received 27 October 1995; accepted 18 July 1996
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