Cold stratification complements cold water in enhancing the germination of Juniperus procera seeds
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.19071/cb.2017.v8.3123Abstract
Enhancing seed germination is a fundamental step for conservation of plant genetic resources but less is understood specifically for endangered native and endemic tree species in the tropics.
We examined how cold stratification and application of different treatments impact the germination of Juniperus procera seeds. We collected seeds from nine different altitudes of Managesha forest, Oromia region, Ethiopia. The seeds were stored in gene bank at -10oC for four years for cold stratification as a dormancy breaking method. We employed three treatments: cold water, 70oC hot water and 100 ml of 1% H2O2 to setup germination experiment in completely randomized design with four replications (50 seeds each). The germinated seeds were counted every fifth day until no more germinated seeds were observed. We analyzed data using two-way ANOVA and the significant for mean difference among altitudinal gradients was computed with Tukey HSD tests. The germination percent from cold stratified and moistened in cold water was higher than either from control, soaking in 70oC hot water or applying 1% H2O2 solution. Moreover, the germination percent varied among the altitudinal gradients for all the three treatments. At some altitudes, the germination was higher or lower consistently throughout control and the three treatments. The variations in altitudinal gradient and the associated environmental factors have triggered the differences in germinability of J. procera seeds. Our overall results suggest that cold stratification can complement cold water to break the dormancy and enhance the germination of J. procera seeds.
Downloads
References
Albrecht J. Tree seed handbook of Kenya. GTZ Forest Seed Centre, Maguga, Kenya; 1993.
Baskin CC, Baskin JM. Seeds: ecology, biogeography, and evolution of dormancy and germination. Academic press, San Diego; 1998.
Bazzaz FA, Ackerly DD, Reekie EG. Reproductive allocation in plants. In: Fenner, M. (Ed.), Seeds: The Ecology of Regeneration in Plant Communities. CABI Publishing, Wallingford/New York; 2000. p. 1–29.
Çavuşoğlu K, Kabar K. Effects of hydrogen peroxide on the germination and early seedling growth of barley under NaCl and high temperature stresses. EurAs J Biosci 2010; 79: 70–79.
Farjon A. Juniperus procera. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species; 2013: e.T33217A2835242. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T33217A2835242.en. Downloaded on 28 June 2016.
Friis I. Forests and forest trees of North East Tropical Africa. Kew Bulletin, additional series XV, HMSO, London; 1992.
GuttermanY. Maternal effects on seeds during development. In: Fenner, M. (Ed.), Seeds: The Ecology of Regeneration in Plant Communities. 2nd ed. CABI Publishing, Wallingford/New York; 2000. p. 59–84.
Landis TD. Where there’s smoke...there’s germination? Native Plants J 2000; 1:25–29.
Loha A, Tigabu M, Teketay D, Lundkvist K, Fries A. Provenance variation in seed morphometric traits, germination and seedling growth of Cordia africana Lam. New For 2006; 32: 71–86.
Mamo N, Mihretu M, Fekadu M, Tigabu M Teketay D. Variation in seed and germination characteristics among Juniperus procera populations in Ethiopia. For Ecol Manage 2006; 225: 320–327.
Mamo N, Nigusie D, Tigabu M, Teketay D, Fekadu M. Longevity of Juniperus procera seed lots under different storage conditions: Implications for ex situ conservation in seed banks. J For Res 2011; 22: 453–459.
Moles AT, Westoby M. Seedling survival and seed size: a synthesis of the literature J Ecol 2004; 92: 372–383.
Negash L. Successful vegetative propagation techniques for the threatened African pencil cedar (Juniperus procera Hoechst Ex Endl.). For Ecol Manage 2002; 161: 53–64.
Bekele T. Phytosociology and Ecology of a Humid Afromontane Forest on the Central Plateau of Ethiopia. J Veg Sci 1994; 5: 87–98.
Teketay D Problems associated with raising trees from seeds. In: Lieth H, Lohmann M (eds) Restoration of tropical forest ecosystems. Kluwer, Dordrecht 1993; p. 91–100.
Teketay D, Granström A. Germination ecology of forest species from the highlands of Ethiopia. J Trop Ecol 1997; 14: 793–803.
Thomsen KA, Kjær ED. Variation between single tree progenies of Fagus sylvatica in seed traits, and its implications for effective population numbers. Silvae Genet 2002; 51: 183–190.
Tigabu M, Fjellström J, Odén, PC, Teketay D. Germination of Juniperus procera seeds in response to stratification and smoke treatments, and detection of insect-damaged seeds with VIS + NIR spectroscopy. New For 2007; 33: 155–169.
Von Breitenbach F. The indigenous Trees of Ethiopia (2nded). Ethiopian Forestry Association, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; 1963.
Wulff RD. Environmental maternal effects on seed quality and germination. In: Kigel J, Galili G (Eds.) Seed Development and Germination. Marcel Dekker Inc., New York/Basel/Hong Kong 1995; p. 491–505.
Yirdaw E, Leinonen K. Seed germination responses of four afromontane tree species to red/ far-red ratio and temperature. For Ecol Manage 2002; 168: 53–61.
.