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Effects of light and temperature on seed germination of eight Cistus species

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 August 2022

Belén Luna Open the ORCID record for Belén Luna [Opens in a new window] ,
Paula Piñas-Bonilla ,
Gonzalo Zavala Open the ORCID record for Gonzalo Zavala [Opens in a new window]  and
Beatriz Pérez Open the ORCID record for Beatriz Pérez [Opens in a new window]
Belén Luna*
Affiliation:
Departamento de Ciencias Ambientales, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Av. Carlos III s/n, 45071 Toledo, Spain
Paula Piñas-Bonilla
Affiliation:
Departamento de Ciencias Ambientales, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Av. Carlos III s/n, 45071 Toledo, Spain
Gonzalo Zavala
Affiliation:
Departamento de Ciencias Ambientales, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Av. Carlos III s/n, 45071 Toledo, Spain
Beatriz Pérez
Affiliation:
Departamento de Ciencias Ambientales, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Av. Carlos III s/n, 45071 Toledo, Spain
*
*Author for Correspondence: Belén Luna, E-mail: belen.luna@uclm.es
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Abstract

Cistus species have seeds with hard coats which impose physical seed dormancy that can be released after seed scarification. In fire-prone habitats, the break of physical seed dormancy is usually related to the heat produced during fires. It is commonly accepted that most hard-seeded species, including those of the genus Cistus, are able to germinate under a wide range of temperatures in light as well as in darkness, once the seed becomes permeable. However, although many studies have focused on the release of physical dormancy only, a few have done so on the effect of environmental factors once dormancy is released. In this research, through a factorial experiment, we analysed the effects of light (light and darkness) and a range of temperatures (10, 15, 20, 25 and 30°C) on the seed germination of eight Cistus species after a heat shock. On average, almost 60% of the seeds did not germinate despite being viable, and this lack of germination increased with higher temperatures during the treatment. Although an idiosyncratic germination response emerged, temperature had a significant effect in all the species, reaching the highest levels of germination between 10 and 20°C. Light interacted with temperature in four cases by increasing the germination, especially under the least favourable temperatures. Environmental factors, such as temperature and light, appear to modulate the germination of the studied Cistus species after the release of physical seed dormancy.

Keywords

Cistaceaefireheat shockphysical seed dormancythermodormancythermoinhibition
Type
Research Paper
Information
Seed Science Research , Volume 32 , Issue 2 , June 2022 , pp. 86 - 93
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press

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