Seed germination capability of four endemic species in the Central Apennines in Italy: relationship between seed size and germination capability

  • Anna Rita Frattaroli
  • Luciano Di Martino
  • Valter Di Cecco
  • Rosangela Catoni
  • Laura Varone
  • Marco Di Santo
  • Loretta Gratani Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome
DOI : https://doi.org/10.5209/rev_LAZA.2013.v34.n1.42253

Résumé

Seed germination capability of Adonis distorta, Androsace mathildae, Aquilegia magellensis and Campanula fragilis subsp. cavolinii endemic species of the Central Apennines in Italy were analyzed. Seed traits varied significantly among the considered species. In particular, seed volumewas the largest in Ad. distorta (91.642 ± 16.851 mm3) and the lowest in C. fragilis subsp. cavolinii (0.029 ± 0.008 mm3). The seed coat thickness ranged from 31 ± 10 µm in Ad. distorta to 9 ± 1 µm. in C. fragilis subsp. cavolinii. Seed coat was brown colored in An. mathildae, dark brown in Aq. magellensis, light brown in Ad. distorta and cream colored in C. fragilis subsp. cavolinii. Pre-treatments were carried out to improve seed germination. Seed germination did not happen in Ad. distorta and An. mathildae in response to the applied treatments (i.e., 0, 250, 500 ppm gibberelic acid, GA3) and cold-wet stratification.  A 65 % increase of germination was observed after the pre-treatment with 500 ppm GA3 in Aq. magellensis which could be justified by an endogenous non-deep physiological dormancy. The final germination percentage increased by 26% in Aq. magellensis and decreased by 89% in C. fragilis subsp. cavolinii after the cold-wet stratification treatment. The obtained results may be used to define a germination protocol in reinforcement projects of the wild populations as a mean of reducing the extinction risk of these endemic species.

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Publiée
2013-12-23
Comment citer
Frattaroli A. R., Di Martino L., Di Cecco V., Catoni R., Varone L., Di Santo M. y Gratani L. (2013). Seed germination capability of four endemic species in the Central Apennines in Italy: relationship between seed size and germination capability. Lazaroa, 34, 43-53. https://doi.org/10.5209/rev_LAZA.2013.v34.n1.42253
Numéro
Vol. 34 (2013)
Rubrique
Articles

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