Large-seeded spices are less dependent on light for germination than small-seeded ones

Milberg, Per; Andersson, Lars; Thompson, Ken

doi:10.1017/s0960258500000118

Cited by 434 publications

(422 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…Mean weight per seed of a species was calculated using all available seed samples of this species. Values from the literature (Salisbury 1942;Lhotska and Chrtkova 1978;Grime et al 1981;Mü ller-Schneider 1983;Bakker et al 1997;Cerletti 1997;Akinola et al 1998;Milberg et al 2000;VanAssche et al 2002) complemented our measurements of 14 species (see Table 1). The age of the seed samples from the collection of the Botanical Institute (Basel, Switzerland) had no significant influence on seed weight (regression analysis with 47 seed samples from 11 randomly chosen species).…”

Section: Methodssupporting

confidence: 76%

Seed weight increases with altitude in the Swiss Alps between related species but not among populations of individual species

2005

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Seed weight is a crucial plant life history trait, determining establishment success and dispersal ability. Especially in stressful environments, larger seeds may be selected at the expense of seed number, because larger seeds have a better chance of giving rise to an established offspring. We tested the hypotheses that between related species-pairs and among populations of single species a similar trend for increasing seed weight with increasing altitude should be present. Firstly, we measured seed weights from 29 species-pairs, with one species occurring in lowland areas and a congeneric species from high altitudes. Seeds of the alpine species were 28±8% larger than seeds from lowland species (P<0.01). Compared to the related lowland species, 55% of the alpine species had heavier seeds, 3% (one species) had lighter, and 41% had seeds of approximately equal weight. Secondly, we compared seed weights among populations of four species from different habitats and with different life histories. Seeds from between 11 and 34 populations per species were sampled along altitudinal gradients of 800-1,500 m (ca. 800 m in Scabiosa lucida, ca. 1,000 m in Saxifraga oppositifolia, ca. 1,000 m in Epilobium fleischeri, and ca. 1,500 m in Carex flacca). In all the four species, we found no indication for heavier seeds at higher altitudes. Our results indicate a selection pressure for species with heavier seeds at higher altitude, but the trend does not seem to operate across all cases. Phylogenetic constraints may limit the correlation among altitude and seed weight, operating particularly against selection for larger seed size, the closer populations and species are related to each other.

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Section: Methodssupporting

confidence: 76%

Seed weight increases with altitude in the Swiss Alps between related species but not among populations of individual species

2005

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“…Since light can only penetrate a few millimeters from the top of the soil surface, seeds found below this depth do not germinate; and even in dark-requiring species, those seedlings would die before reaching the soil surface, especially if they are small owing to the smaller seedling size (see below). Data on other ecosystems suggest that seeds that are smaller are more likely to require light for germination than larger seeds (Milberg et al, 2000;Jankowska-Blaszczuk and Daws, 2007). In a recent study, Wu et al (2013 ) found a similar pattern in alpine species of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.…”

Section: Light Requirementmentioning

confidence: 85%

“…Light is an important environmental factor stimulating germination in many seeds (Milberg et al, 2000). The requirement of light for germination has been one of the potential determinants driving species to accumulate a persistent seed bank (Baskin and Baskin, 1998;Milberg et al, 2000;Pons and Fenner, 2000).…”

Section: Light Requirementmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The requirement of light for germination has been one of the potential determinants driving species to accumulate a persistent seed bank (Baskin and Baskin, 1998;Milberg et al, 2000;Pons and Fenner, 2000). A strict light requirement in some alpine species not only prevents germination in late autumn, it also cues the timing of germination to spring (Densmore, 1997; Fig 1).…”

Section: Light Requirementmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Towards an Understanding of Factors Controlling Seed Bank Composition and Longevity in the Alpine Environment

2015

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“…Light is a critical regulator of germination in small seeds (Milberg et al 2000, Pearson et al 2003, Seo et al 2009). Light sensitivity of seeds is dependent on the action of phytochromes and change their sensitivity as a function of temperature (Heschel et al 2007, Franklin 2009.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Physiological, morphological and biochemical characteristics of the sexual propagation of Piper aduncum (Piperaceae)

Dousseau¹,

Alvarenga²,

Alves³

et al. 2011

Rev. bras. Bot.

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-(Physiological, morphological and biochemical characteristics of the sexual propagation of Piper aduncum (Piperaceae)). In this work we attempted to characterize the diaspores and the germination process of Piper aduncum L., as well as to verify the influence of the interaction between presence and absence of light (photoperiod of 12 hours and dark) and temperature (25 °C, 30 °C and 20-30 °C) and also of gibberellin (0, 50, 100, 200 and 400 mg L -1 ) on the root protrusion and normal seedlings formation. The diaspores are very small with a thousand seed weight of 0.3645 g, 13% moisture and protein reserve. Diaspores are strict positively photoblastic in the tested temperature range and the optimum temperature for root protrusion was 30 °C, while for normal seedlings was 25 °C. The previous permanence in the dark led to an increase in the speed of root protrusion and percentage and speed of seedling formation. The application of gibberellic acid negatively interfered with the protrusion and growth of the radicle while favoring the elongation of hypocotyls.Key words -germination, gibberellin, light, post-germination, temperature RESUMO -(Características fisiológicas, morfológicas e bioquímicas da propagação sexual de Piper aduncum (Piperaceae)). Buscou-se neste trabalho efetuar a caracterização dos diásporos maduros e do processo germinativo de Piper aduncum L., bem como verificar a influência da interação entre presença e ausência de luz (fotoperíodo de 12 horas e escuro) e temperaturas (25 °C, 30 °C e 20-30 °C) e do ácido giberélico (0, 50, 100, 200 e 400 mg L -1 ) sobre a germinabilidade e o vigor, considerando a protrusão radicular e as plântulas normais. Os diásporos são diminutos com peso de 0,3645 g para mil sementes, 13% de umidade e reserva protéica. São fotoblásticos positivos estritos, na faixa de temperatura testada e a temperatura ótima para a protrusão radicular foi 30 °C, enquanto que para a formação de plântulas normais foi 25 °C. A prévia permanência no escuro levou a um aumento na velocidade de protrusão radicular, e, principalmente, a porcentagem e velocidade de formação de plântulas foram favorecidas. A aplicação de ácido giberélico influenciou negativamente na protrusão e no crescimento da radícula e favoreceu o alongamento do hipocótilo.

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Large-seeded spices are less dependent on light for germination than small-seeded ones

Cited by 434 publications

References 32 publications

Seed weight increases with altitude in the Swiss Alps between related species but not among populations of individual species

Seed weight increases with altitude in the Swiss Alps between related species but not among populations of individual species

Towards an Understanding of Factors Controlling Seed Bank Composition and Longevity in the Alpine Environment

Physiological, morphological and biochemical characteristics of the sexual propagation of Piper aduncum (Piperaceae)

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