Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-g7gxr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-19T12:15:29.895Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

A temperate rhamnaceous species with a non-enclosing stone and without physical dormancy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 November 2012

Jeffrey L. Walck ,
M. Shea Cofer ,
K.M.G. Gehan Jayasuriya ,
M. Thilina R. Fernando  and
Siti N. Hidayati
Jeffrey L. Walck*
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN37132, USA
M. Shea Cofer
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN37132, USA
K.M.G. Gehan Jayasuriya
Affiliation:
Department of Botany, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
M. Thilina R. Fernando
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN37132, USA
Siti N. Hidayati
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN37132, USA
*
*Correspondence Fax: +1 615-898-5093 Email: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the dormancy break and germination requirements of seeds from the rhamnaceous vine Berchemia scandens. The fleshy fruit contains a two-locular stone with an endocarp described as ‘bony, thickish’. Scarified and non-scarified stones increased by about 30–50% in mass during imbibition over a 24-h period. The endocarp of the stone does not completely enclose the seeds and a soft tissue region is present. This region is the primary area of water entrance to the seed, as shown by dye-tracking and by sealing it. Freshly matured and overwintered seeds of B. scandens germinated to low percentages at all temperatures during 2 weeks of incubation in light, and they germinated from moderate to high percentages during 12–14 weeks of incubation in light. While cold stratification had a relatively modest effect on the promotion of total germination across most temperatures assessed (if seeds were left for long enough), it had a somewhat stronger effect on germination rate. Cold-stratified seeds germinated equally well in light and darkness. The class of dormancy found in seeds of B. scandens would be physiological. The anatomy of the stones readily allows water imbibition, showing that seeds of B. scandens lack physical dormancy, an uncommon trait in Rhamnaceae.

Keywords

Berchemiaendocarpimbibition testphysical dormancyphysiological dormancyRhamnaceaestone
Type
Research Papers
Information
Seed Science Research , Volume 22 , Issue 4 , December 2012 , pp. 269 - 278
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012

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

Baskin, C.C. and Baskin, J.M. (1998) Seeds: Ecology, biogeography, and evolution of dormancy and germination. San Diego, Academic Press.Google Scholar
Baskin, C.C., Baskin, J.M. and Yoshinaga, A. (2007) Imbibition and germination of seeds of Colubrina oppositifolia (Rhamnaceae), a federal-endangered tree species endemic to Hawaii. Natural Areas Journal 27, 25–30.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Baskin, J.M. and Baskin, C.C. (2003a) Classification, biogeography, and phylogenetic relationships of seed dormancy. pp. 518–544in (Eds) Seed conservation: Turning science into practice. Kew, UK, Royal Botanic Gardens.Google Scholar
Baskin, J.M. and Baskin, C.C. (2003b) New approaches to the study of the evolution of physical and physiological dormancy, the two most common classes of seed dormancy on earth. pp. 371–380in (Eds) The biology of seeds: recent research advances. Wallingford, UK, CABI Publishing.Google Scholar
Baskin, J.M. and Baskin, C.C. (2004) A classification system for seed dormancy. Seed Science Research 14, 1–16.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Baskin, J.M., Baskin, C.C. and Li, X. (2000) Taxonomy, anatomy and evolution of physical dormancy in seeds. Plant Species Biology 15, 139–152.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brizicky, G.K. (1964) The genera of Rhamnaceae in the southeastern United States. Journal of the Arnold Arboretum 45, 439–463.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Corner, E.J.H. (1976) The seeds of dicotyledons. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Dang, H.S., Zhang, Y.J., Jiang, M.X., Huang, H.D. and Jin, X. (2005) A preliminary study on dormancy and germination physiology of endangered species Berchemiella wilsonii (Schneid.) Nakai var. pubipetiolata H. Qian seeds. Journal of Wuhan Botanical Research 23, 327–331.Google Scholar
Doweld, A.B. (2001) The systematic relevance of fruit and seed structure in Bersama and Melianthus (Melianthaceae). Plant Systematics and Evolution 227, 75–103.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Foroughbakhch, R., Rodriguez, M., Maiti, R.K., Hernandez-Pinero, J.L., Hauad, L.A. and Cespedes, A.E. (2000) Seed morphology and ultrastructure of eight native shrubs and trees of northeastern Mexico. Phyton 66, 25–31.Google Scholar
Godfrey, R.K. and Wooten, J.W. (1981) Aquatic and wetland plants of southeastern United States: Dicotyledons. Athens, University of Georgia Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Haines, L., Ennis, I.L., Blanchon, D.J. and Triggs, C.M. (2007) Propagating the pale-flowered kumarahou (Pomaderris hamiltonii) and kumarahou (Pomaderris kumeraho) from seeds. New Zealand Journal of Botany 45, 91–100.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Halls, L.K. (1977) Southern fruit-producing woody plants used by wildlife. USDA Forest Service General Technical Report SO-16. New Orleans, Southern Forest Experiment Station.Google Scholar
Hidayati, S.N., Baskin, J.M. and Baskin, C.C. (2001) Dormancy-breaking and germination requirements for seeds of Symphoricarpos orbiculatus (Caprifoliaceae). American Journal of Botany 88, 1444–1451.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hines, D.A. and Eckman, K. (1993) Indigenous multipurpose trees of Tanzania: uses and economic benefits for people. Ottawa, Cultural Survival Canada and Development Services Foundation of Tanzania.Google Scholar
Huffman, D.W. (2006) Production, losses, and germination of Ceanothus fendleri seeds in an Arizona ponderosa pine forest. Western North American Naturalist 66, 365–373.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jayasuriya, K.M.G.G., Wijetunga, A.S.T.B., Baskin, J.M. and Baskin, C.C. (2010) Recalcitrancy and a new kind of epicotyl dormancy in seeds of the understory tropical rainforest tree Humboldtia laurifolia (Fabaceae, Ceasalpinioideae). American Journal of Botany 97, 15–26.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Karlsson, L.M., Hidayati, S.N., Walck, J.L. and Milberg, P. (2005) Complex combination of seed dormancy and seedling development determine emergence of Viburnum tinus (Caprifoliaceae). Annals of Botany 95, 323–330.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Keogh, J.A. and Bannister, P. (1994) Seed structure and germination in Discaria toumatou (Rhamnaceae). Weed Research 34, 481–490.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lee, J., Kim, J.H., Lee, S.M., Park, S.H., Kim, J., Ali, M.A., Lee, C. and Kim, G. (2010) Seeds of wild plants of Korea. South Korea, Daejeon, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology. Available athttp://www.seedbank.re.kr (accessed accessed 6 March 2012).Google Scholar
Maraghni, M., Gorai, M. and Neffati, M. (2010) Seed germination at different temperatures and water stress levels, and seedling emergence from different depths of Ziziphus lotus. South African Journal of Botany 76, 453–459.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Martin, A.C. (1946) The comparative internal morphology of seeds. The American Midland Naturalist 36, 513–660.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Martin, A.C. and Barkley, W.D. (1961) Seed identification manual. Berkeley, University of California Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mattana, E., Daws, M.I. and Bacchetta, G. (2009) Effects of temperature, light and pre-chilling on germination of Rhamnus persicifolia, an endemic tree species of Sardinia (Italy). Seed Science and Technology 37, 758–764.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Meyer, G.A. and Witmer, M.C. (1998) Influence of seed processing by frugivorous birds on germination success of three North American shrubs. The American Midland Naturalist 140, 129–139.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mgangamundo, M.A., Mugasha, A.G., Chamshama, S.A.O., Rutagwaba, J.E. and Msanga, H.P. (2001) Seed coat impermeability is not the only cause of prolonged and low germination of dry seed of Berchemia discolor. Tanzania Journal of Forestry and Nature Conservation 74, 16–24.Google Scholar
Miller, J.H. and Miller, K.V. (2005) Forest plants of the Southeast and their wildlife uses (revised edition). Athens, The University of Georgia Press.Google Scholar
Mugasha, A.G. and Msanga, H.P. (1987) Maesopsis eminii seed coat impermeability is not the cause of sporadic and prolonged seed germination. Forest Ecology and Management 22, 301–305.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nikolaeva, M.G. (1969) Physiology of deep dormancy in seeds. Leningrad, Izdatel'stvo ‘Nauka’. (Translated from Russian by Z. Shapiro, National Science Foundation, Washington, DC).Google Scholar
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (2003) Comparative climatic data for the United States through 2002. Ashville, North Carolina, US Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Climatic Data Center.Google Scholar
Orme, M.L. and Leege, T.A. (1976) Emergence and survival of redstem (Ceanothus sanguineus) following prescribed burning. Proceedings Tall Timbers Fire Ecology Conference 14, 391–420.Google Scholar
Orwa, C., Mutua, A., Kindt, R., Jamnadass, R. and Simons, A. (2009) Agroforestree database: a tree reference and selection guide, ver. 4.0. Available athttp://www.worldagroforestry.org/resources/databases/agroforestree (accessed accessed 7 March 2012).Google Scholar
Richardson, J.E., Fay, M.F., Cronk, Q.C.B. and Chase, M.W. (2000) A revision of the tribal classification of Rhamnaceae. Kew Bulletin 55, 311–340.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Royal Botanic Gardens Kew (2012) ‘Difficult’ seeds project. Kew, Royal Botanic Gardens. Available athttp://www.kew.org/science-research-data/kew-in-depth/difficult-seeds/index.htm (accessed accessed 6 March 2012).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens (2009) Case studies: germination of Pomaderris. Available athttp://www.rtbg.tas.gov.au/index.aspx?base = 344 (accessed accessed 16 August 2012).Google Scholar
Saied, A.S., Gebauer, J. and Buerkert, A. (2008) Effects of different scarification methods on germination of Ziziphus spina-christi seeds. Seed Science and Technology 36, 201–205.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sautu, A., Baskin, J.M., Baskin, C.C. and Condit, R. (2006) Studies on the seed biology of 100 native species of trees in a seasonal moist tropical forest, Panama, Central America. Forest Ecology and Management 234, 245–263.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Shelton, M.G. and Cain, M.D. (2002) Potential carry-over of seeds from 11 common shrub and vine competitors of loblolly and shortleaf pines. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 32, 412–419.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
SPSS (2004) SPSS for Windows, version 13.0. Chicago, SPSS Institute, Inc.Google Scholar
Stokes, P. (1965) Temperature and seed dormancy. pp. 746–803in (Ed.) Encyclopedia of plant physiology. Vol. 15, Part 2. Berlin, Springer-Verlag.Google Scholar
TopTropicals (2012) Tropical plant online catalog. Fort Myers, Top Tropicals LLC. Avaialble athttp://toptropicals.com (accessed accessed 6 March 2012).Google Scholar
Turner, S.R., Merritt, D.J., Baskin, C.C., Dixon, K.W. and Baskin, J.M. (2005) Physical dormancy in seeds of six genera of Australian Rhamnaceae. Seed Science Research 15, 51–58.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Walck, J.L., Baskin, J.M., Baskin, C.C. and Hidayati, S.N. (2005) Defining transient and persistent seed banks in species with pronounced seasonal dormancy and germination patterns. Seed Science Research 15, 189–196.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Willson, M.F. (1993) Mammals as seed-dispersal mutualists in North America. Oikos 67, 159–176.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Yilin, C. and Schirarend, C. (2007) Rhamnaceae. In (Eds) Flora of China. Vol. 12 (Hippocastanaceae through Theaceae). Beijing, Science Press and St. Louis, Missouri Botanical Garden Press. Available athttp://www.efloras.org (accessed accessed 6 March 2012).Google Scholar