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Underdeveloped embryos and kinds of dormancy in seeds of two gymnosperms: Podocarpus costalis and Nageia nagi (Podocarpaceae)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 January 2013

Shun-Ying Chen ,
Carol C. Baskin ,
Jerry M. Baskin  and
Ching-Te Chien
Shun-Ying Chen
Affiliation:
Division of Silviculture, Taiwan Forestry Research Institute, 53 Nan-Hai Road, Taipei10066, Taiwan
Carol C. Baskin
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky40506-0225, USA Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky40546-0312, USA
Jerry M. Baskin
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky40506-0225, USA
Ching-Te Chien*
Affiliation:
Division of Silviculture, Taiwan Forestry Research Institute, 53 Nan-Hai Road, Taipei10066, Taiwan
*
*Correspondence E-mail: chien@tfri.gov.tw
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Abstract

Although it has been speculated that seeds of the gymnosperm family Podocarpaceae have an underdeveloped embryo, no detailed studies have been done to definitively answer this question. Our purpose was to determine if embryos in seeds of two species of Podocarpaceae, Podocarpus costalis and Nageia nagi, from Taiwan are underdeveloped and to examine the kind of dormancy the seeds have. Embryos in fresh seeds of P. costalis were 4.6 ± 0.5 mm long, and they increased in length by about 54% before radicle emergence (germination), demonstrating that the embryo is underdeveloped at seed maturity. Seeds germinated to >90% at 30/20, 25/15 and 25°C in light in ≤ 4 weeks, without any cold stratification pretreatment. Thus, seeds of P. costalis have morphological dormancy (MD). Embryos in fresh seeds of N. nagi were 7.4 ± 0.8 mm long and they increased in length by about 39% before radicle emergence (germination) occurred, indicating that the embryo is underdeveloped at seed maturity. Seeds germinated to < 25% at 30/20 and 25°C in light in 4 weeks but to >90% at the same temperatures in 12 weeks. Thus, most seeds of N. nagi have morphophysiological dormancy (MPD). Although underdeveloped embryos are considered to be a primitive condition in seed plants, they also occur in the most advanced orders. The occurrence of underdeveloped embryos in Podocarpaceae documents that they are not restricted to a basal clade in gymnosperms.

Keywords

embryo growthmorphological dormancymorphophysiological dormancyNageiaPodocarpusradicle emergenceshoot emergence
Type
Short Communication
Information
Seed Science Research , Volume 23 , Issue 1 , March 2013 , pp. 75 - 81
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013

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