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Interannual variability of germination and cone/seed morphometric characteristics in the endemic Grecian fir (Abies cephalonica) over an 8-year-long study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 December 2017

Evangelia N. Daskalakou ,
Katerina Koutsovoulou ,
Lida Mavroeidi ,
Charalambos Tsiamitas ,
Eleftheria Kafali ,
Panagiota-Effrosyni Radaiou ,
Petros Ganatsas  and
Costas A. Thanos
Evangelia N. Daskalakou*
Affiliation:
Institute of Mediterranean Forest Ecosystems, Hellenic Agricultural Organization DEMETER, Terma Alkmanos str., 11528 Athens, Greece
Katerina Koutsovoulou
Affiliation:
Department of Botany, Faculty of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, Athens 15784, Greece
Lida Mavroeidi
Affiliation:
Department of Botany, Faculty of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, Athens 15784, Greece
Charalambos Tsiamitas
Affiliation:
Department of Botany, Faculty of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, Athens 15784, Greece
Eleftheria Kafali
Affiliation:
Department of Botany, Faculty of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, Athens 15784, Greece
Panagiota-Effrosyni Radaiou
Affiliation:
Department of Botany, Faculty of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, Athens 15784, Greece
Petros Ganatsas
Affiliation:
Department of Forestry and Natural Environment, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, PO Box 262, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece
Costas A. Thanos
Affiliation:
Department of Botany, Faculty of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, Athens 15784, Greece
*
Author for correspondence: Evangelia N. Daskalakou, Email: edaskalakou@fria.gr
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Abstract

Abies cephalonica cone and seed morphometric characteristics as well as seed germination behaviour were investigated during an 8-year-long diachronic study (2007–2015). The research was carried out in Parnitha National Park, in the part of this Greek endemic, silver fir population that was spared from an unprecedented wildfire (2007). A statistically significant interannual and among-tree variation of cone traits has been identified, except for cone diameter. Cone length is correlated to the number of seeds per cone, while the percentage of empty seeds has been consistently high, with extreme values of 29.3 and 81.8% in a masting (2015) and lean crop (2009) year, respectively. There is also a considerable proportion of dead (including infected) and non-germinated seeds, and the eventual germinable fraction is well below 25% with spikes in masting years (39.4 and 60.9% in 2010 and 2015, respectively). Untreated seeds have been tested at a wide range of constant and alternating temperatures and germination is completed within 4–5 weeks at T ≥ 15°C and ca 15 weeks at 5–10°C. A chilling pretreatment of 4–8 weeks (at 2–4°C) concludes germination at 15–20°C within 2 weeks. A significant white light requirement has been observed for untreated seeds at 15–20°C, while germination was light indifferent at lower or higher temperatures. Data obtained in this study confirm the present, field seed germination during springtime; we may also predict an earlier germination (late autumn to mid-winter) in forest gaps, under the predicted, warmer conditions in the future.

Keywords

Abiescold stratificationcone diametercone lengthlight responseseed germinationseed mass
Type
Research Papers
Information
Seed Science Research , Volume 28 , Issue 1 , March 2018 , pp. 24 - 33
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Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2017 

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