Revisiting the pericarp as a barrier restricting water entry/loss from cotyledons and embryonic axis of temperate desiccation-sensitive Quercus acorns

Kang, Han; Jaganathan, Ganesh K.; Han, Yingying; Li, Jiajin; Liu, Baolin

doi:10.1007/s00425-022-04061-4

Cited by 4 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 62 publications

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“…According to the data available in the Seed Information Database [17], the average thousand-acorn mass of Castanopsis is 650 g, which is significantly lower than the average Fagaceae acorn mass of 2500 g per thousand acorns (Jaganathan et al in review). Despite producing smaller acorns, the anatomy of three Castanopsis species displayed a distinguishable scar (hilum), main pericarp, and apex, implying that this characteristic is common among Fagaceae species [19,20,26,58,59]. Furthermore, acorn size influences the pericarp thickness and scar size (Table 1), a feature that appears to be prevalent in Quercus [19,[60][61][62].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Co-Occurrence of Physiological and Epicotyl Physiological Dormancy in Three Desiccation-Sensitive Castanopsis (Fagaceae) Acorns from China with Specific Reference to the Embryonic Axis Position

Li,

Jaganathan,

Kang

et al. 2023

Forests

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Ecological significance of dormancy in desiccation-sensitive seeds is poorly understood. Quercus exhibits mutually exclusive occurrence of physiological (PD) and epicotyl dormancy (ePD), with no reported co-occurrence or dormancy class in other genera. We aimed to understand the dormancy in three Castanopsis species and document desiccation sensitivity and germination patterns concerning the embryonic axis position. We hypothesized that Castanopsis acorns are recalcitrant and potentially dormant. Fresh and cold-stratified acorns of Castanopsis chinensis, Castanopsis purpurella, and Castanopsis sclerophylla were subjected to desiccation and germination. Seedling emergence and internal morphology was monitored following cold (CS) and warm (WS) stratification. Fresh acorns had radicles emerge only after CS but require WS for shoot emergence. Drying to 20% moisture content led to complete death. In C. purpurella and C. sclerophylla, the embryonic axis was near the scar, and germination occurred by cracking the pericarp near the scar, which contrasts with C. chinensis. Moderate drying relieved dormancy due to the mechanical resistance of the pericarp. All three acorns were desiccation-sensitive and dormant. This is the first explicit report on PD and ePD co-occurrence in desiccation-sensitive seeds, but literature surveys allow for inference of such coexistence. CS alleviated PD and WS relieved ePD. Winter temperatures break PD, and acorns germinate during spring, but shoot emergence is delayed until summer. Our results are instructive for research on the dormancy of desiccation-sensitive species and the reproduction of Fagaceae species in subtropical forests.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Co-Occurrence of Physiological and Epicotyl Physiological Dormancy in Three Desiccation-Sensitive Castanopsis (Fagaceae) Acorns from China with Specific Reference to the Embryonic Axis Position

Li,

Jaganathan,

Kang

et al. 2023

Forests

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“…Additionally, after rainfall, the moss layer occurring among bilberry stems holds higher humidity for a longer time, while in the more open areas, the moss “carpet” dries out more quickly (personal observations). The higher moisture of the first microhabitat could increase the maintenance of seed viability through the dormancy period (García et al., 2002 ; Kang et al., 2023 ) and explains the higher survival rate of northern red oak seedlings (Dickson & Tomlinson, 1996 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Verified hypotheses on the “nurse” and “burial” effects on introduced Quercus rubra regeneration in a mesic Scots pine forest

Woziwoda,

Dyderski,

Gręda

et al. 2024

Ecology and Evolution

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A previous study on the encroachment of North American northern red oak Quercus rubra L. into the mesic Scots pine forest (in central Poland) revealed high abundances of seedlings and saplings under shrubs, with lower abundances in open areas or clumps of bilberry Vaccinium myrtillus L. It was unclear whether the regeneration success of Q. rubra is enhanced by the presence of shrubs due to their “nurse effect”, and how burying acorns of different sizes in soil or moss affects the survival of oak seeds and seedlings (a “burial effect”). Results of a previous observational study were verified in an experimental study: a pool of 900 large‐, medium‐, and small‐sized acorns was sown under moss cover in open areas and within bilberry clumps and in soil under shrubs in 2018 and monitored for 3 years in natural conditions. The majority of sown acorns were lost, mainly due to acorn pilferage, lack of germination and the death of sprouting acorns. However, acorn and seedling survival depended significantly on acorn size and differed among the microsites studied. Viable seedlings were twice as likely to develop from large‐ and medium‐sized as from small‐sized acorns, and they grew mainly from acorns sown under moss cover, confirming a positive “burial effect.” Seedling survival was three times higher in bilberry and open areas, than under shrubs; however, seedlings “nursed” by shrubs were less threatened by large ungulates. Only a small part of the pool of sown acorns contributes to the reproductive success of Q. rubra in the mesic Scots pine forest. Microsites characteristic to this type of forest are suitable for northern red oak regeneration; however, bilberry favors acorn survival and germination and early seedling growth, moss cover favors acorn survival and germination, while shrubs protect surviving seedlings from herbivory.

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The reproductive biology of Fagaceae acorns in the current and future climate

Jaganathan,

Canelo,

Phartyal

et al. 2024

Flora

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Revisiting the pericarp as a barrier restricting water entry/loss from cotyledons and embryonic axis of temperate desiccation-sensitive Quercus acorns

Cited by 4 publications

References 62 publications

The Co-Occurrence of Physiological and Epicotyl Physiological Dormancy in Three Desiccation-Sensitive Castanopsis (Fagaceae) Acorns from China with Specific Reference to the Embryonic Axis Position

The Co-Occurrence of Physiological and Epicotyl Physiological Dormancy in Three Desiccation-Sensitive Castanopsis (Fagaceae) Acorns from China with Specific Reference to the Embryonic Axis Position

Verified hypotheses on the “nurse” and “burial” effects on introduced Quercus rubra regeneration in a mesic Scots pine forest

The reproductive biology of Fagaceae acorns in the current and future climate

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