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Serotiny in Melocactus matanzanus (Cactaceae) and role of cephalium in dispersal of seeds after the individual's death

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 December 2021

Duniel Barrios Open the ORCID record for Duniel Barrios [Opens in a new window] ,
Sandy Toledo Open the ORCID record for Sandy Toledo [Opens in a new window] ,
Jorge A. Sánchez Open the ORCID record for Jorge A. Sánchez [Opens in a new window]  and
Luis R. González-Torres Open the ORCID record for Luis R. González-Torres [Opens in a new window]
Duniel Barrios*
Affiliation:
Grupo de Ecología y Conservación, Jardín Botánico Nacional, Universidad de La Habana, Havana, Cuba
Sandy Toledo
Affiliation:
Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Oceanográficas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
Jorge A. Sánchez
Affiliation:
Instituto de Ecología y Sistemática, Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnología y Medio Ambiente, La Habana, Cuba
Luis R. González-Torres
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, Douglas College, New Westminster, Canada Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
*
*Author for Correspondence: Duniel Barrios, E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Serotiny is a strategy in which the retention of mature seeds in parent structures allows plants to cope with environmental variability like heat, drought or fire. Although this phenomenon might be common in Cactaceae, and particularly in Melocactus, it has generally been scarcely addressed. The main goal of our work is to investigate if there are seeds hidden in the cephalium of Melocactus matanzanus and if there are, determine whether or not these seeds maintain their viability. We also discuss some advantages the cephalium may offer as diaspore after the death of individuals. Cephalia collected from dead individuals were divided into four slices and their seeds counted; we also assessed the viability and photoblastic response of the seeds by using growth chambers at 25/30°C, and by a cut test on the seeds that did not germinate. Our results showed retention of viable seeds of different ages in all slices of the cephalium. Seeds were photoblastic positive with germination between 11–22% and viability above 50% in the portion of the lots that did not germinate.

Keywords

aerial seed bankbet-hedgingdelayed dispersalphotoblastismseed longevityseed retention
Type
Short Communication
Information
Seed Science Research , Volume 31 , Issue 4 , December 2021 , pp. 326 - 332
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press

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