Temperature as a main factor determining germination in Argentinean dry Chaco species
Keywords:
environmental factors, seeds, light, Chaco woodlandAbstract
Temperature is a main factor determining germination in Chaco woodland species. Plant species composition is the result of processes that operate at different spatial and temporal scales. Species that coexist in a community are affected by environmental factors that influence the periods of the year when seed germination and seedling emergence occur, thus maximising establishment and survival. In this study we investigated the effects of temperature and light on seed germination of a wide range of plant species common in the Chaco woodlands of central Argentina. Twenty five species of angiosperms were selected, covering a wide range of life forms. Experimental treatments were three temperature regimes (15/5 °C, 25/15 °C and 35/20 °C) in light (12/12 h daily photoperiod) and in continuous darkness. Temperature was the main factor triggering the germination and most species were indifferent to light. Our results support the idea that seed germination is associated with the highly seasonal nature of rainfall in this region.
References
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BASKIN, JM; B DAVIS; CC BASKIN; S GLEASON & S CORDELL. 2004. Physical dormancy in seeds of Dodonea viscosa (Sapindales, Sapindaceae) from Hawaii. Seed Sci. Res. 14:81-90.
BASKIN, JM; CC BASKIN & X LI. 2000. Taxonomy, anatomy and evolution of physical dormancy in seeds. Plant Spec. Biol. 15:139-152.
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BELL, D. 1999. Turner Review N 1. The process of germination in Australian species. Aust. J. Bot. 47:475-517.
BELL, D; D ROKICH; C MCCHESNEY & J PLUMMER. 1995. Effects of temperature, light and gibberellic acid on the germination of seeds of 43 species native to Western Australia. J. Veg. Sci. 6:797-806.
BELL, D; J PLUMMER & S TAYLOR. 1993. Seed germination ecology in southwestern Western Australia. Bot. Rev. 76:24-73.
CABIDO, M; A MANZUR; L CARRANZA & C GONZÁLEZ ALBARRACÍN. 1994. La vegetación y el medio físico del Chaco Árido en la provincia de Córdoba, Argentina. Phytocoenologia 24: 423-460.
CABRERA, A. 1976. Regiones fitogeográficas argentinas. Enciclopedia Argentina de Agricultura y Jardinería, (2a edición). Acme, Buenos Aires.
CAMPOS, C & R OJEDA. 1997. Dispersal and germination of Prosopis flexuosa (Fabaceae) seeds by desert mammals in Argentina. J. Arid. Env. 35:707-714.
CAPITANELLI, R. 1979. Clima. Pp. 45-138 en: Vázquez, J.; R Miatello & M Roqué (eds.). Geografía física de la Provincia de Córdoba. Ed. Boldt, Buenos Aires.
CATALÁN, L & M BALZARINI. 1992. Improved laboratory germination conditions for several arboreal Prosopis species: P. chilensis, P. flexuosa, P. nigra, P. alba, P. caldenia and P. affinis. Seed Sci. Technol. 20:293-298.
COLOMBO SPERONI, F & M DE VIANA. 2000. Requerimientos de escarificación en semillas de especies autóctonas e invasoras. Ecol. Aust.
CONY, M & S TRIONE. 1998. Inter- and intraspecific variability in Prosopis flexuosa and P. chilensis: seed germination under salt and moisture stress. J. Arid Env. 40:307-317.
DAWS, M; D BURSLEM, L CRABTREE, P KIRKMAN, C MULLINS ET AL. 2002. Differences in seed germination responses may promote coexistence of four sympatric Piper species. Funct. Ecol. 16:258-267.
DE VILLALOBOS, A & D PELÁEZ. 2001. Influences of temperature and water stress on germination and establishment of Prosopis caldenia Burk. J. Arid Env. 49:321-328.
DI RIENZO, J; W BOBLEDO; F CASANOVES; M BALZARINI; L GONZÁLEZ ET AL. 1999. InfoStat. Versión Beta. Estadística y Biometría, Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba.
DÍAZ, S; M CABIDO & F CASANOVES. 1998. Plant functional traits and environmental filters at a regional scale. J. Veg. Sci. 9:113-122.
DONOSO, C & A CABELLO. 1978. Antecedentes fenológicos y de germinación de especies leñosas chilenas. Ciencias Forestales 1:31-41.
FIGUEROA, J; J ARMESTO & JF HERNÁNDEZ. 1996. Estrategias de germinación y latencia de semillas en especies del bosque templado de Chiloé, Chile. Rev. Chil. Hist. Nat. 69: 260- 299.
FUNES, G & P VENIER. 2006. Dormancy and germination in three Acacia (Fabaceae) species from central Argentina. Seed Sci. Res. 16:77-82.
FUNES, G; S BASCONCELO; S DÍAZ & M CABIDO. 1999. Seed size and shape are good predictors of seed persistence in soil in temperate mountain grasslands of Argentina. Seed Sci. Res. 9:341-345.
GURVICH, D; G FUNES; M GIORGIS & P DEMAIO. 2008. Germination characteristics of four coexisting Gymnocalycium (Cactaceae) species with different flowering phenologies. Nat. Areas J. 28:104-108.
HARPER, J. 1977. Population biology of plant. Academic Press, London. Pp. 892.
INTERNATIONAL SEED TESTING ASSOCIATION. 1996. International Rules for Seed Testing. Rules Zürich, Switzerland. Pp. 335.
JANKOWSKA-BLASZCZUK, M & P GRUBB. 2006. Changing perspectives on the role of soil seed bank in northern temperate deciduous forests and in tropical lowland rain forests: parallels and contrasts. Perspect. Plant Ecol. Evol. Syst. 8:3-21.
KARLSSON, L; T TAMADO & P MILBERG. 2008. Inter- species comparison of seed dormancy and germination of six annual Asteraceae weeds in an ecological context. Seed Sci. Res. 18:35-45.
KEDDY, P. 1992. Assembly and response rules: two goals for predictive community ecology. J. Veg. Sci. 3:157-164.
KYEREH, B; M SWAINE & J THOMPSON. 1999. Effects of light on the germination of forest trees in Ghana. J. Ecol. 87:772-783.
LUTI, R; M SOLÍS; M GALERA; N MÜLLER; M BERZAL ET AL. 1979. Vegetación. Pp. 297-368 en: Vázquez, J; R Miatello & M Roque (eds), Geografía Física de la Provincia de Córdoba. Ed. Boldt., Buenos Aires.
MILBERG, P; L ANDERSSON; & K THOMPSON. 2007. Large-seeded species are less dependent on light for germination than small-seeded ones. Seed Sci. Res. 10:99-104.
MORELLO, J; C PROTOMASTRO; L SANCHOLUZ & C BLANCO. 1985. Estudio Macroecológico de Los Llanos de la Rioja. Serie del cincuentenario de la Administración de Parques Nacionales. 5:1-53.
PEARSON, T.; D BURSLEM; C MULLINS & J DALLING. 2002. Germination ecology of neotropical pioneers: interacting effects of environmental conditions and seed size. Ecology 83:2798- 2807.
PECO, B; J TRABA; C LEVASSOR; A SÁNCHEZ & F AZCÁRATE. 2003. Seed size, shape and persistence in dry Mediterranean grass and scrublands. Seed Sci. Res. 13:87-95.
PONS, T. 2000. Seed responses to light. Pp. 237-260 en: Fenner, M (ed.) Seeds: The ecology of Regeneration in Plants Communities. CAB International, Wallingford, UK.
PRADO, DE. 1993. What is the Gran Chaco vegetation in South America? I: A review. Contribution to the study of flora and vegetaion of the Chaco. V. Candollea 48: 145- 172.
PROBERT, R. 2000. The role of temperature in the regulation of seed dormancy and germination. Pp. 261-292 en: Fenner, M (ed.) Seeds: The Ecology of Regeneration in Plant Communities. CAB International, Wallingford, UK.
ROJAS-ARÉCHIGA, M & C VÁZQUEZ-YANES. 2000. Cactus seed germination: a review. J. Arid Env. 44:85-104.
ROJAS-ARÉCHIGA, M; C VÁZQUEZ-YANES & A OROZCO- SEGOVIA. 1998. Seed response to temperature of two life forms of Mexican cacti species: an ecophysiological interpretation. Plant Ecol. 135:207-214.
SOKAL, R & F ROHLF. 1995. Biometry. Freeman, New York. Pp. 887.
THOMPSON, K; SR BAND & J HODGSON. 1993. Seed size and shape predict persistence in soil. Funct. Ecol. 7:236-241.
TURNER, SR; D MERRITT; CC BASKIN; K DIXON & JM BASKIN. 2005. Physical dormancy in seeds of six genera of Australian Rhamnaceae. Seed Sci. Res. 15:51-58.
VÁZQUEZ-YANES, C; A OROZCO-SEGOVIA; E RINCÓN; M SÁNCHEZ-CORONADO; P HUANTE ET AL. 1990. Light beneath the litter in a tropical forest: Effect on seed germination. Ecology 71: 1952-1958.
WILLIAMS, P & R BUXTON. 1995. Aspects of the ecology of two species of Passiflora (P. mollissima (Kunth) L. Bailey and P. pinnatistipula Cav.) as weeds in South Island, New Zealand. New Zeal. J. Bot. 33:315-323.
ZAK, M & M CABIDO. 2002. Spatial patterns of the Chaco vegetation of central Argentina: Integration of remote sensing and phytosociology. App. Veg. Sci. 5:213-226.
ZULOAGA, F & O MORRONE. 1996. Catálogo de las Plantas Vasculares de la República Argentina. I. Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard.
ZULOAGA, F & O MORRONE. 1999. Catálogo de las Plantas Vasculares de la República Argentina. II. Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard.
ZULOAGA, F; E NICORA DE PANZA; Z RÚGOLO DE AGRASAR; O MORRONE; J PENSIERO ET AL. 1994. Catálogo de la familia Poaceae en la República Argentina. Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard
BASKIN, JM; B DAVIS; CC BASKIN; S GLEASON & S CORDELL. 2004. Physical dormancy in seeds of Dodonea viscosa (Sapindales, Sapindaceae) from Hawaii. Seed Sci. Res. 14:81-90.
BASKIN, JM; CC BASKIN & X LI. 2000. Taxonomy, anatomy and evolution of physical dormancy in seeds. Plant Spec. Biol. 15:139-152.
BELL, D. 1994. Interaction of fire, temperature and light in the germination response of 16 species from the Eucalyptus marginata forest of south-western Western Australia. Aust. J. Bot. 42:501-509.
BELL, D. 1999. Turner Review N 1. The process of germination in Australian species. Aust. J. Bot. 47:475-517.
BELL, D; D ROKICH; C MCCHESNEY & J PLUMMER. 1995. Effects of temperature, light and gibberellic acid on the germination of seeds of 43 species native to Western Australia. J. Veg. Sci. 6:797-806.
BELL, D; J PLUMMER & S TAYLOR. 1993. Seed germination ecology in southwestern Western Australia. Bot. Rev. 76:24-73.
CABIDO, M; A MANZUR; L CARRANZA & C GONZÁLEZ ALBARRACÍN. 1994. La vegetación y el medio físico del Chaco Árido en la provincia de Córdoba, Argentina. Phytocoenologia 24: 423-460.
CABRERA, A. 1976. Regiones fitogeográficas argentinas. Enciclopedia Argentina de Agricultura y Jardinería, (2a edición). Acme, Buenos Aires.
CAMPOS, C & R OJEDA. 1997. Dispersal and germination of Prosopis flexuosa (Fabaceae) seeds by desert mammals in Argentina. J. Arid. Env. 35:707-714.
CAPITANELLI, R. 1979. Clima. Pp. 45-138 en: Vázquez, J.; R Miatello & M Roqué (eds.). Geografía física de la Provincia de Córdoba. Ed. Boldt, Buenos Aires.
CATALÁN, L & M BALZARINI. 1992. Improved laboratory germination conditions for several arboreal Prosopis species: P. chilensis, P. flexuosa, P. nigra, P. alba, P. caldenia and P. affinis. Seed Sci. Technol. 20:293-298.
COLOMBO SPERONI, F & M DE VIANA. 2000. Requerimientos de escarificación en semillas de especies autóctonas e invasoras. Ecol. Aust.
CONY, M & S TRIONE. 1998. Inter- and intraspecific variability in Prosopis flexuosa and P. chilensis: seed germination under salt and moisture stress. J. Arid Env. 40:307-317.
DAWS, M; D BURSLEM, L CRABTREE, P KIRKMAN, C MULLINS ET AL. 2002. Differences in seed germination responses may promote coexistence of four sympatric Piper species. Funct. Ecol. 16:258-267.
DE VILLALOBOS, A & D PELÁEZ. 2001. Influences of temperature and water stress on germination and establishment of Prosopis caldenia Burk. J. Arid Env. 49:321-328.
DI RIENZO, J; W BOBLEDO; F CASANOVES; M BALZARINI; L GONZÁLEZ ET AL. 1999. InfoStat. Versión Beta. Estadística y Biometría, Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba.
DÍAZ, S; M CABIDO & F CASANOVES. 1998. Plant functional traits and environmental filters at a regional scale. J. Veg. Sci. 9:113-122.
DONOSO, C & A CABELLO. 1978. Antecedentes fenológicos y de germinación de especies leñosas chilenas. Ciencias Forestales 1:31-41.
FIGUEROA, J; J ARMESTO & JF HERNÁNDEZ. 1996. Estrategias de germinación y latencia de semillas en especies del bosque templado de Chiloé, Chile. Rev. Chil. Hist. Nat. 69: 260- 299.
FUNES, G & P VENIER. 2006. Dormancy and germination in three Acacia (Fabaceae) species from central Argentina. Seed Sci. Res. 16:77-82.
FUNES, G; S BASCONCELO; S DÍAZ & M CABIDO. 1999. Seed size and shape are good predictors of seed persistence in soil in temperate mountain grasslands of Argentina. Seed Sci. Res. 9:341-345.
GURVICH, D; G FUNES; M GIORGIS & P DEMAIO. 2008. Germination characteristics of four coexisting Gymnocalycium (Cactaceae) species with different flowering phenologies. Nat. Areas J. 28:104-108.
HARPER, J. 1977. Population biology of plant. Academic Press, London. Pp. 892.
INTERNATIONAL SEED TESTING ASSOCIATION. 1996. International Rules for Seed Testing. Rules Zürich, Switzerland. Pp. 335.
JANKOWSKA-BLASZCZUK, M & P GRUBB. 2006. Changing perspectives on the role of soil seed bank in northern temperate deciduous forests and in tropical lowland rain forests: parallels and contrasts. Perspect. Plant Ecol. Evol. Syst. 8:3-21.
KARLSSON, L; T TAMADO & P MILBERG. 2008. Inter- species comparison of seed dormancy and germination of six annual Asteraceae weeds in an ecological context. Seed Sci. Res. 18:35-45.
KEDDY, P. 1992. Assembly and response rules: two goals for predictive community ecology. J. Veg. Sci. 3:157-164.
KYEREH, B; M SWAINE & J THOMPSON. 1999. Effects of light on the germination of forest trees in Ghana. J. Ecol. 87:772-783.
LUTI, R; M SOLÍS; M GALERA; N MÜLLER; M BERZAL ET AL. 1979. Vegetación. Pp. 297-368 en: Vázquez, J; R Miatello & M Roque (eds), Geografía Física de la Provincia de Córdoba. Ed. Boldt., Buenos Aires.
MILBERG, P; L ANDERSSON; & K THOMPSON. 2007. Large-seeded species are less dependent on light for germination than small-seeded ones. Seed Sci. Res. 10:99-104.
MORELLO, J; C PROTOMASTRO; L SANCHOLUZ & C BLANCO. 1985. Estudio Macroecológico de Los Llanos de la Rioja. Serie del cincuentenario de la Administración de Parques Nacionales. 5:1-53.
PEARSON, T.; D BURSLEM; C MULLINS & J DALLING. 2002. Germination ecology of neotropical pioneers: interacting effects of environmental conditions and seed size. Ecology 83:2798- 2807.
PECO, B; J TRABA; C LEVASSOR; A SÁNCHEZ & F AZCÁRATE. 2003. Seed size, shape and persistence in dry Mediterranean grass and scrublands. Seed Sci. Res. 13:87-95.
PONS, T. 2000. Seed responses to light. Pp. 237-260 en: Fenner, M (ed.) Seeds: The ecology of Regeneration in Plants Communities. CAB International, Wallingford, UK.
PRADO, DE. 1993. What is the Gran Chaco vegetation in South America? I: A review. Contribution to the study of flora and vegetaion of the Chaco. V. Candollea 48: 145- 172.
PROBERT, R. 2000. The role of temperature in the regulation of seed dormancy and germination. Pp. 261-292 en: Fenner, M (ed.) Seeds: The Ecology of Regeneration in Plant Communities. CAB International, Wallingford, UK.
ROJAS-ARÉCHIGA, M & C VÁZQUEZ-YANES. 2000. Cactus seed germination: a review. J. Arid Env. 44:85-104.
ROJAS-ARÉCHIGA, M; C VÁZQUEZ-YANES & A OROZCO- SEGOVIA. 1998. Seed response to temperature of two life forms of Mexican cacti species: an ecophysiological interpretation. Plant Ecol. 135:207-214.
SOKAL, R & F ROHLF. 1995. Biometry. Freeman, New York. Pp. 887.
THOMPSON, K; SR BAND & J HODGSON. 1993. Seed size and shape predict persistence in soil. Funct. Ecol. 7:236-241.
TURNER, SR; D MERRITT; CC BASKIN; K DIXON & JM BASKIN. 2005. Physical dormancy in seeds of six genera of Australian Rhamnaceae. Seed Sci. Res. 15:51-58.
VÁZQUEZ-YANES, C; A OROZCO-SEGOVIA; E RINCÓN; M SÁNCHEZ-CORONADO; P HUANTE ET AL. 1990. Light beneath the litter in a tropical forest: Effect on seed germination. Ecology 71: 1952-1958.
WILLIAMS, P & R BUXTON. 1995. Aspects of the ecology of two species of Passiflora (P. mollissima (Kunth) L. Bailey and P. pinnatistipula Cav.) as weeds in South Island, New Zealand. New Zeal. J. Bot. 33:315-323.
ZAK, M & M CABIDO. 2002. Spatial patterns of the Chaco vegetation of central Argentina: Integration of remote sensing and phytosociology. App. Veg. Sci. 5:213-226.
ZULOAGA, F & O MORRONE. 1996. Catálogo de las Plantas Vasculares de la República Argentina. I. Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard.
ZULOAGA, F & O MORRONE. 1999. Catálogo de las Plantas Vasculares de la República Argentina. II. Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard.
ZULOAGA, F; E NICORA DE PANZA; Z RÚGOLO DE AGRASAR; O MORRONE; J PENSIERO ET AL. 1994. Catálogo de la familia Poaceae en la República Argentina. Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard
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2009-08-01
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Funes, G., Díaz, S., & Venier, P. (2009). Temperature as a main factor determining germination in Argentinean dry Chaco species. Ecología Austral, 19(2), 129–138. Retrieved from https://ojs.ecologiaaustral.com.ar/index.php/Ecologia_Austral/article/view/1359
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