New Zealand Journal of Botany abstract
Germination behaviour of seeds of the New Zealand woody species Alseuosmia
macrophylla, A. pusilla, Cordyline banksii, Geniostoma
rupestre, Myrtus bullata, and Solanum aviculare
C. J. BURROWS
Department of Plant and Microbial Sciences
University of Canterbury
Private Bag 4800
Christchurch, New Zealand
Abstract Seeds from freshly collected fruit were tested to
examine germination period in relation to season, germination rates, and degree
of success, in conditions similar to those that they could experience after
dispersal in nature. In a relatively well lit, moist treatment seeds germinated
in autumn-winter, or winter-spring(-summer). Germination of a few
Alseuosmia
macrophylla seeds was delayed until spring of the second year. Success was
high (97-100%) for all species except
Solanum (72-82%). Germination in
the dark was nil for
Alseuosmia macrophylla but for the other species
ranged from 82% (
Solanum) to 100% (
Cordyline);
Alseuosmia
macrophylla seeds germinated when brought into the light (96% success).
Germination on soil was much more variable and usually the degree of success
was lower than in the well lit treatments, except for
Cordyline and
Myrtus. Germination success in-fruit was nil for all species except
Cordyline, for which it was very poor.
Drying for several months substantially lowered seed viability for
Alseuosmia spp. and Myrtus, but the viability of seeds of the
other species tested was relatively unimpaired. When buried, only
Cordyline sent (relatively few) shoots to the soil surface;
Geniostoma and Solanum seeds went dormant and many
(Solanum), or all (Geniostoma) germinated when unearthed. Buried
Myrtus seeds germinated but died underground.
Germination behaviour of the seeds of the respective species generally matches
the ecological habit of the plants, Geniostoma and Solanum,
colonisers of disturbed sites, being the most versatile. The effect of
pre-conditioning of seeds on their subsequent germination behaviour is
emphasised. Secondary dormancy effects may be induced by darkness alone
(Alseuosmia macrophylla), or burial, involving both darkness and
probably the gaseous environment (Geniostoma and Solanum), and
possibly by drying (Alseuosmia macrophylla, Cordyline,
Solanum).
Keywords high viability; varied treatments; diverse
germination responses; seed storage; pre-conditioning
B98017
Received 30 March 1998; accepted 7 September 1998
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