Dormancy and viability ofFerocactus peninsulae(Cactaceae) seeds

Abstract

Knowledge on seed dormancy is crucial for the understanding of plant population dynamics, as it controls seed germination and seed bank formation. Dormant seeds have high potential to establish in soil seed banks, but such information within Cactaceae is scarce, although it is essential for conservation programs. The aim of this study was to determine if seeds of Ferocactus peninsulae showed any kind of dormancy and to test their germination capacity after storage. This was assessed with 15 seed sowing experiments done over 4 years with seeds stored under room conditions (20 ± 2°C). We demonstrated the existence of physiological dormancy in F. peninsulae seeds that is broken with an after‐ripening period. Germination was low during the first 3 months of storage (d = 0.206) but increased after 10 months of storage (d = 0.654), and seeds maintained their viability at 48 months (d = 0.707). Also, their speed of germination increased with storage time. Ferocactus peninsulae seeds are positively photoblastic, and the requirement for light for germination persisted over all experiments. The results provide crucial information for propagation and conservation research and may allow us to infer that F. peninsulae seeds are able to form a persistent soil seed bank, as they maintained their viability after dormancy is released.

Efecto de la edad de las semillas en la germinación y la supervivencia de plántulas de Lophophora diffusa (Cactaceae)

“…En L. diffusa no se encontró una disminución en los porcentajes de germinación en semillas de cuatro años en comparación con semillas de menor edad. El potencial para formar un banco de semillas se ha reconocido en algunas especies de cactáceas como Ferocactus townsendianus Britton & Rose, F. peninsulae y E. enneacanthus a partir de experimentos de germinación en laboratorio (Guillén-Trujillo et al, 2014;Aranda-Pineda, 2017;Rojas-Aréchiga y García-Morales, 2022).…”

Light and Ethephon Overcoming Seed Dormancy in Friar’s Crown (Melocactus zehntneri, Cactaceae), a Brazilian Cactus

“…Seeds of different species of Cactaceae have rigid and hard coats [ 18 , 19 ]. However, recent studies increased the evidence that only physiological dormancy exists in Cactaceae seeds [ 20 , 21 ]. In Melocactus , the presence of seed dormancy was widely reported, with percentages of germinated seeds between 8 and 65%, depending on the species, genotype, harvest time, germination temperature, cultivation conditions (in vitro, Petri dish, or in vivo), and pre-treatments or treatments applied to the seeds [ 22 , 23 , 24 ].…”

“…The majority (80.9%) from 275 studied Cactaceae species are considered positive photoblastic and, any negative photoblastic was reported [ 20 , 21 ]. Flores et al [ 33 ] reported a strong influence of different Cactaceae tribes (phylogeny) on the response to light for seed germination.…”

Environmental Regulation of Weed Seed Dormancy and Germination

“…After-ripening is influenced strongly by storage conditions and duration [20,22,127]. Cyclic changes in seed dormancy can occur in dry storage at constant temperatures, as was shown for rough bluegrass (Poa trivialis L.).…”