Effect of the Soil Matric Potential on the Germination Capacity of Prosopis chilensis, Quillaja saponaria and Cryptocarya alba from Contrasting Geographical Origins

Abstract

As a consequence of the megadrought in Central Chile, it is expected that most of the distribution of woody species will be narrowed in the northern limits because of restrictions imposed by soil matric potential on seed germination. In this study, we analyzed the effect of the soil matric potential on seed germination and initial recruitment of the sclerophyllous species Prosopis chilensis, Quillaja saponaria and Cryptocarya alba from contrasting geographic origins (i.e., seed sources). We evaluated the germination capacity (%) under different matric potentials (i.e., 0, −6, −33, −750 and −1250 kPa) for 100 days. Soil matric potential of −1250 kPa negatively affected the germination capacity of the three species. P. chilensis seeds stopped germinating under soil matric potential close to −1200 kPa, whereas in Q. saponaria and C. alba the complete inhibition of germination was under −1000 kPa. Seed sources also differed in their germination capacity by soil matric potential: northern seed sources of P. chilensis germinated with the lowest soil matric potential. There was no clear trend in Q. saponaria and C. alba, but in general, southern seed sources performed better than the northern ones. The results showed that Ѱm in the soil played an important role in the germinative capacity against different seed source origins, but not in soils with a north–south gradient.

Extracted Eucalyptus globulus Bark Fiber as a Potential Substrate for Pinus radiata and Quillaja saponaria Germination

“…The results suggest differences in the media conditions that favor the germination of both seeds. It has been reported that Q. saponaria seeds are highly affected by soil matric potential, with northern seed sources performing better under low soil matric potential [ 56 ]. For Pinus pinea seeds, it was observed that the germination is influenced by drought, salinity, and heat, with the highest germination percentage presented at 80 °C and short exposure time [ 57 ].…”

Genetic and Environmental Factors Affecting Seed Germination

“… Topics in this Special Issue. Overview of topics and articles related to them: seed quality [ 1 , 2 ], physical and biological factors [ 3 , 4 ], seed pre-treatment [ 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ], management [ 9 , 10 ], salt and drought stress [ 11 , 12 ], and seed technology [ 13 ]. …”

“…Arceo-Gómez et al [1] studied the seeds of Enterolobium cyclocarpum and Piscidia piscipula, Fabaceae tree species from the Yucatan Peninsula (Mexico). They used fresh physical and biological factors [3,4], seed pre-treatment [5][6][7][8], management [9,10], salt and drought stress [11,12], and seed technology [13].…”

“…In their study, Faundez et al [ 4 ] analyzed the effect of soil matric potential on seed germination and initial recruitment in the sclerophyllous species Prosopis chilensis , Quillaja saponaria and Cryptocarya alba, from contrasting geographic origins, under different matric potentials (i.e., 0, −6, −33, −750 and −1250 kPa). P. chilensis seeds stopped germinating under a soil matric potential close to −1200 kPa, whereas in Q. saponaria and C. alba, the complete inhibition of germination occurred under −1000 kPa.…”