Hostname: page-component-7479d7b7d-jwnkl Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-08T21:17:51.209Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Seed stratification and germination strategy in the Mediterranean pines Pinus brutia and P. halepensis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2008

Antonis Skordilis  and
Costas A. Thanos
Antonis Skordilis
Affiliation:
Department of Botany, University of Athens, Athens 15784, Greece
Costas A. Thanos*
Affiliation:
Department of Botany, University of Athens, Athens 15784, Greece
*
*Correspondence
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The ecophysiology of germination in Pinus brutia and P. halepensis was studied in seeds collected from different areas of Greece. In regard to the temperature range of germination, both P. halepensis and the southern provenance (Lasithi, Crete) of the East Mediterranean pine, P. brutia, follow a typical Mediterranean pattern. In the latter species, dramatic differences in the degree of dormancy were noted among the three provenances investigated; in all seed lots however, 20°C was clearly the optimal temperature for germination. Stratification resulted in a considerable promotion of P. brutia seed germination. Nevertheless, the inductive effect of stratification was shown to differ among the three provenances used, escalating from a simple increase of germination rate (in the southern seed lot from Lasithi, Crete) through a broadening of the temperature range of germination (in the intermediate lot from Thasos Island) to, finally, a dramatic release from a particularly deep dormancy (in the northern lot from Soufli). These deeply dormant seeds of the latter provenance displayed an absolute stratification requirement; prolonged illumination or seed coat scarification could not substitute for the promotive effect of prechilling. A considerable interaction between far-red light and stratification was revealed in the dormant seeds of P. brutia (Soufli provenance); far-red pulses during stratification could either cancel or diminish the germination promotion induced by low temperatures. The differences observed in the germination behaviour among the various P. brutia provenances may be attributed to a variable ecophysiological strategy in regard to the temporal pattern of seedling emergence and establishment. According to the variants of this strategy, seed germination is timed to occur during either spring (in regions with relatively cold and moist climates), or autumn and early winter (in southern, mild and dry areas) or both (in intermediate conditions).

Keywords

dormancyseed germinationPinus brutiaPinus halepensisseed provenancestratificationtemperature range of germination
Type
Ecology
Information
Seed Science Research , Volume 5 , Issue 3 , September 1995 , pp. 151 - 160
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1995

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Adkins, C.R., Hinesley, L.E. and Blazich, F.A. (1984) Role of stratification, temperature and light in Fraser fir germination. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 14, 88–93.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Andreakos, K. (1978) Climatic data of the Greek network (in Greek). Athens, National Meteorological Service of Greece.Google Scholar
Bewley, J.D. and Black, M. (1982) Physiology and biochemistry of seeds in relation to germination. Vol. 2. Viability, dormancy, and environmental control. Berlin, Springer-Verlag.Google Scholar
Borghetti, M., Vendramin, G.G., Veneziano, A. and Giannini, R. (1986) Influence of stratification on germination of Pinus leucodermis. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 16, 867–869.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Borghetti, M., Vendramin, G.G., Giannini, R. and Schettino, A. (1989) Effects of stratification, temperature and light on germination of Pinus leucodermis. Acta Oecologica, Oecologia Plantarum 10, 45–56.Google Scholar
Bramlett, D.L., Dell, T.R. and Pepper, W.D. (1983) Genetic and maternal influences on Virginia pine seed germination. Silvae Genetica 32, 1–4.Google Scholar
Calamassi, R. (1982) Effetti della luce e della temperatura sulla germinazione dei semi in provenienze di Pinus halepensis Mill. e Pinus brutia Ten. Italia Forestale e Montana, 37, 174–187.Google Scholar
Calamassi, R., Falusi, M. and Tocci, A. (1980) Variazione geografica e resistenza a stress idrici in semi di Pinus halepensis Mill., Pinus brutia Ten. e Pinus eldarica Medw. Annali dell'Istituto Sperimentale per la Selvicoltura (Arezzo) 11, 193–230.Google Scholar
Calamassi, R., Falusi, M. and Tocci, A. (1984) Effets de la temperature de germination et de la stratification sur la germination des semences de Pinus halepensis Mill. Silvae Genetica 33, 133–139.Google Scholar
Daskalakou, E.N. and Thanos, C.A. (1994) Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis) postfire regeneration: the role of canopy and soil seed banks. pp 1079–1088 in Viegas, D.X. (Ed.) Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Forest Fire Research,Coimbra,21–24 November 1994,Portugal, Vol. II.Google Scholar
Daskalakou, E.N. and Thanos, C.A. (in press) Postfire Aleppo pine seedling establishment and survival. Proceedings of the European School on ‘Forest Fire Risk and Management’, Porto Carras (Halkidiki), Greece, 27 May–4 June, 1992. Brussels, Commission of European Communities.Google Scholar
Falusi, M. (1982) Variazione geografica e germinazione in semi di Pinus brutia Ten. Annali dell' Academia Italiana di Scienze Forestali 31, 157–178.Google Scholar
Fowler, D.P. and Dwight, T.W. (1964) Provenance differences in the stratification requirement of white pine. Canadian Journal of Botany 42, 669–675.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Isik, K. (1986) Altitudinal variation in Pinus brutia Ten.: seed and seedling characteristics. Silvae Genetica 35, 58–67.Google Scholar
Leadem, C.L. (1986) Stratification of Abies amabilis seeds. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 16, 755–760.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Magini, E. (1955) Sulle condizioni di germinazione del pino d'Aleppo e del pino domestico. Italia Forestale e Montana 40, 106–124.Google Scholar
Mirov, N.T. (1967) The genus Pinus. New York, Ronald Press Co.Google Scholar
Nahal, I. (1983) Le pin brutia (Pinus brutia Ten. subsp. brutia). Première partie. Forêt Méditerranéenne 5, 165–172.Google Scholar
Ozdemir, T. (1977) Studies on the possibilities of natural regeneration of Pinus brutia Ten. in Antalya region (in Turkish). Istanbul Universitesi, Orman Fakultesi Dergisi A/2, 239–293.Google Scholar
Panetsos, C.P. (1975) Natural hybridization between Pinus halepensis and Pinus brutia. Silvae Genetica 24, 163–168.Google Scholar
Panetsos, C.P. (1981) Monograph of Pinus halepensis (Mill.) and P. brutia (Ten.). Annales Forestales (Zagreb) 9, 39–77.Google Scholar
Sefik, Y. (1965) Studies on the cone and seed of Pinus brutia (in Turkish). Orman Genel Mudurlugu Yayini, No. 420.Google Scholar
Shafiq, Y. (1970/1971) The effect of sulphuric acid 98% on seed coat thickness and on germination of seeds of Pinus brutia Ten. Mesopotamia Journal of Agriculture 5–6, 41–46.Google Scholar
Shafiq, Y. (1978) Studies on the cones and seeds of Pinus brutia Ten. Mesopotamia Journal of Agriculture 13, 79–84.Google Scholar
Shafiq, Y. (1979) Effect of sulphuric acid, gibberellic acid, and scarification on the germination of Pinus brutia Ten. seeds. Beiträge zur tropischen Landwirtschaft und Veterinärmedizin 17, 207–210.Google Scholar
Shafiq, Y. and Omer, M. (1969) The effects of stratification on germination of Pinus brutia. seed. Mesopotamia Journal of Agriculture 4, 96–99.Google Scholar
Thanos, C.A. and Marcou, S. (1991) Post-fire regeneration in Pinus brutia forest ecosystems of Samos island (Greece): 6 years after. Acta Oecologica, Oecologia Plantarum 12, 633–642.Google Scholar
Thanos, C.A. and Skordilis, A. (1987) The effects of light, temperature and osmotic stress on the germination of Pinus halepensis and P. brutia seeds. Seed Science and Technology 15, 163–174.Google Scholar
Thanos, C.A., Marcou, S., Christodoulakis, D. and Yannitsaros, A. (1989) Early post-fire regeneration in Pinus brutia forest ecosystems of Samos island (Greece). Acta Oecologica, Oecologia Plantarum 10, 79–94.Google Scholar
Thanos, C.A., Georghiou, K., Douma, D.J. and Marangaki, C.J. (1991) Photoinhibition of seed germination in Mediterranean maritime plants. Annals of Botany 68, 469–475.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Thompson, P.A. (1973) Geographical adaptation of seeds. pp 31–58 in Heydecker, W. (Ed.) Seed ecology. London, Butterworths.Google Scholar
Washitani, I. and Saeki, T. (1986) Germination responses of Pinus densiflora seeds to temperature, light and interrupted imbibition. Journal of Experimental Botany 37, 1376–1387.CrossRefGoogle Scholar