Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-s2hrs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-10T15:35:48.407Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Morphophysiological epicotyl dormancy in seeds of three Psychotria species from Sri Lanka: first record for Rubiaceae

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 March 2016

Yasoja S. Athugala ,
K.M.G. Jayasuriya ,
A.M.T.A. Gunaratne  and
Carol C. Baskin
Yasoja S. Athugala*
Affiliation:
Department of Botany, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka Postgraduate Institute of Science, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
K.M.G. Jayasuriya
Affiliation:
Department of Botany, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka Postgraduate Institute of Science, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
A.M.T.A. Gunaratne
Affiliation:
Department of Botany, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka Postgraduate Institute of Science, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
Carol C. Baskin
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
*
*Correspondence Email: yasoja2net@gmail.com
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

To increase our knowledge of the diversity of seed dormancy and germination in Rubiaceae, we investigated seed desiccation sensitivity and germination of three Psychotria species. Seeds of P. gardneri, P. nigra and P. zeylanica germinated to high percentages at <15% seed moisture content. Intact seeds of P. zeylanica and P. nigra imbibed water and thus do not have physical dormancy. More than 50% of the seeds of P. zeylanica, P. nigra and P. gardneri took 33, 53 and 110 d, respectively, at 25°C for the radicle to emerge, and embryo growth occurred before and after radicle emergence. Thus, seeds have morphophysiological dormancy. Shoot emergence of P. nigra and P. zeylanica seeds was delayed 50 and 80 d after radical emergence, respectively; thus, seeds have epicotyl morphophysiological dormancy (eMPD). This is the first report of eMPD in Rubiaceae. Since warm stratification promoted both radicle and shoot emergence in seeds of P. zeylanica and P. nigra, the level of eMPD is non-deep simple. Hence, dormancy of the studied Psychotria spp. can be described as C1bBb (radicle)–C1bBb (epicotyl), i.e. the embryo is underdeveloped and grows prior to radicle emergence and epicotyl emergence under warm temperatures (Bb), and both the radicle and epicotyl have non-deep simple physiological dormancy broken by warm temperatures (C1b). In two Psychotria species studied in detail, radicle emergence occurs at the beginning of the rainy season and plumule emergence at the peak rainy season when conditions are most favourable for rapid seedling development.

Keywords

embryo growthgermination requirementsphysiological dormancyseed desiccation sensitivityseed dormancy
Type
Research Papers
Information
Seed Science Research , Volume 26 , Issue 2 , June 2016 , pp. 171 - 181
Check for updates
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2016 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Adjibade, Y., Weniger, B., Quirion, J.C., Kuballa, B., Cabalion, P. and Anton, R. (1992) Dimeric alkaloids from Psychotria fosteriana . Phytochemistry 31, 317–319.Google Scholar
Agyili, J., Sacande, M., Koffi, E. and Peprah, T. (2007) Improving the collection and germination of West African Garcinia kola Heckel seeds. New Forests 34, 269–279.Google Scholar
Araújo, C.G. and Cardoso, V.J.M. (2007) Psychotria hoffmansegiana (Willd ex Roem. & Schult.) Mull. Arg. and Palicourea marcagravii st. Hil. (Rubiaceae): potential for forming soil seed banks in a Brazilian Cerrado. Brazilian Journal of Biology 67, 421–427.Google Scholar
Bambaradeniya, C.N.B. and Ekanayake, S.P. (2003) A guide to the biodiversity of Knuckles Forest Region. Colombo, Sri Lanka, IUCN – the World Conservation Union, Sri Lanka Country Office.Google Scholar
Baskin, C.C. and Baskin, J.M. (2005) Seed dormancy in trees of climax tropical vegetation types. Tropical Ecology 46, 17–28.Google Scholar
Baskin, C.C. and Baskin, J.M. (2007) Nymphaeaceae: a basal angiosperm family (ANITA grade) with a fully developed embryo. Seed Science Research 17, 293–296.Google Scholar
Baskin, C.C. and Baskin, J.M. (2014) Seeds: ecology, biogeography and evolution of dormancy and germination (2nd edition). San Diego, California, Elsevier/Academic Press.Google Scholar
Baskin, J.M. and Baskin, C.C. (1985) Epicotyl dormancy in seeds of Cimicifuga racemosa and Hepatica acutiloba . Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club 112, 253–257.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Baskin, J.M. and Baskin, C.C. (2004) A classification system for seed dormancy. Seed Science Research 14, 1–16.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brown, R.F. (1987) Germination of Aristida armata under constant and alternating temperatures and its analysis with the cumulative Weibull distribution as a model. Australian Journal of Botany 35, 581–591.Google Scholar
Corrêa, L.R., Soares, G.L.G. and Fett-Neto, A.G. (2008) Allelopathic potential of Psychotria leiocarpa, a dominant understory species of subtropical forests. South African Journal of Botany 74, 583–590.Google Scholar
Da Silva, E.A., Toorop, P.E., Van Lammeren, A.A. and Hilhorst, H.W.M. (2008) ABA inhibits embryo cell expansion and early cell division events during coffee (Coffea arabica ‘Rubi’) seed germination. Annals of Botany 102, 425–433.Google Scholar
Davis, A.P., Bridson, D., Jarvis, C. and Govaerts, R. (2001a) The typification and characterization of the genus Psychotria L. (Rubiaceae). Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 135, 35–42.Google Scholar
Davis, M.A., Pritchard, S.G., Boyd, R.S. and Prior, S.A. (2001b) Developmental and induced responses of nickel-based and organic defences of the nickel-hyperaccumulating shrub, Psychotria douarrei . New Phytologist 150, 49–58.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
De Farias, E.T., da Silva, E.A., Toorop, P.E., Bewley, J.D. and Hilhorst, H.W. (2014) Expression studies in the embryo and in the micropylar endosperm of germinating coffee (Coffea arabica cv. Rubi) seeds. Plant Growth Regulation 75, 575–581.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dissanayake, M.D. (1987) A revised handbook to the flora of Ceylon. Vol. VI. pp. 328–364. New Delhi, India, Amerind Publishing.Google Scholar
Dussert, S., Chabrillange, N., Engelmann, F. and Hamon, S. (1999) Quantitative estimation of seed desiccation sensitivity using a quantal response model: application to nine species of the genus Coffea L. Seed Science Research 9, 135–144.Google Scholar
Ellis, R.H., Hong, T.D. and Roberts, E.H. (1990) An intermediate category of seed storage behaviour? I. Coffee. Journal of Experimental Botany 41, 1167–1174.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Engel, V.L. and Parrotta, J.A. (2001) An evaluation of direct seeding for reforestation of degraded lands in central São Paulo state, Brazil. Forest Ecology and Management 152, 169–181.Google Scholar
Farmer, R.E. (1977) Epicotyl dormancy in white and chestnut oaks. Forest Science 23, 329–33.Google Scholar
Flores, E.M., Poulsen, K. and Stubsgaard, F. (1996) Recalcitrant tree seed species of socioeconomic importance in Costa Rica: state of knowledge of physiology. Intermediate/recalcitrant tropical forest tree seeds. pp. 136–140 in Proceedings of the Workshop on Improved Methods for Handling and Storage of Intermediate/Recalcitrant Tropical Forest Tree Seeds, 8–10 June 1995, Humlebaek, Denmark.Google Scholar
Green, B.M.P. (Ed.) (2008) A guide to nature's diversity in Horton Plains National Park. Colombo, Sri Lanka, Department of Wildlife Conservation, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources.Google Scholar
Gunatilleke, I.A.U.N. and Gunatilleke, C.V.S. (1990) Distribution of floristic richness and its conservation in Sri Lanka. Conservation Biology 4, 21–31.Google Scholar
Hamilton, C.W. (1989) A revision of Mesoamerican Psychotria Subgen. Psychotria (Rubiaceae). Part III: species 48–61. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 76, 886–916.Google Scholar
Henriques, A.T., Lopes, S.O., Paranhos, J.T., Gregianini, T.S., Fett-Neto, A.G., Schripsema, J. and Von Pose, G.L. (2004) N, β-d-Glucopyrano-sylvincosamide, a light regulated indole alkaloid from the shoots of Psychotria leiocarpa . Phytochemistry 65, 449–454.Google Scholar
Hong, T.D. and Ellis, R.H. (1996) A protocol to determine seed storage behaviour. IPGRI Technical Bulletin No. 1. Rome, Italy, International Plant Genetic Resources Institute.Google Scholar
ISTA (International Seed Testing Association). (2008) International rules for seed testing (edition 2008). Bassersdorf, Switzerland, ISTA.Google Scholar
Jayasuriya, K.G., Wijetunga, A.S., Baskin, J.M. and Baskin, C.C. (2012) Physiological epicotyl dormancy and recalcitrant storage behaviour in seeds of two tropical Fabaceae (subfamily Caesalpinioideae) species. AoB PLANTS. doi: 10.1093/aobpla/pls044.Google Scholar
Judd, W.S. (1999) Plant systematics: A phylogenetic approach. Sunderland, Sinauer Associates.Google Scholar
Lopes, S., Von Poser, G.L., Kerber, V.A., Farias, F.M., Konrath, E.L., Moreno, P., Sobral, M.E., Zuanazzi, J.A.S. and Henriques, A.T. (2004) Taxonomic significance of alkaloids and iridoidglucosides in the tribe Psychotrieae (Rubiaceae). Biochemical Systematics and Ecology 32, 1187–1195.Google Scholar
Mabberley, D.J. (2008) Mabberley's plant-book: A portable dictionary of plants, their classifications, and uses. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Martin, A.C. (1946) The comparative internal morphology of seeds. American Midland Naturalist 36, 513–660.Google Scholar
MOE (Ministry of the Environment). (2012) The National red list 2012 of Sri Lanka; Conservation status of the fauna and flora. Colombo, Sri Lanka, Ministry of the Environment.Google Scholar
Nepokroeff, M., Bremer, B. and Sytsma, K.J. (1999) Reorganization of the genus Psychotria and tribe Psychotrieae (Rubiaceae) inferred from ITS and rbcL sequence data. Systematic Botany 24, 5–27.Google Scholar
Ng, F.S. (1992) Manual of fruits, seeds and seedlings. Vol. 2. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Forest Research Institute.Google Scholar
Nikolaeva, M.G. (1977) Factors controlling the seed dormancy pattern. pp. 51–74 in Khan, A.A. (Ed.) Physiology and biochemistry of seed dormancy and germination. Amsterdam, North-Holland.Google Scholar
Olson, D.M. and Dinerstein, E. (1998) The Global 200: a representation approach to conserving the Earth's most biologically valuable ecoregions. Conservation Biology 12, 502–515.Google Scholar
Orwa, C., Mutua, A., Kindt, R., Jamnadass, R. and Simons, A. (2009) Agro-forest tree database: a tree reference and selection guide version 4.0. 2009. Available at http://www.worldagroforestry.org/af/treedb/ (accessed 3 June 2015).Google Scholar
Sohmer, S. (1988) The non-climbing species of the genus Psychotria (Rubiaceae) in New Guinea and the Bismarck Archipelago. Honolulu, Hawaii, Bishop Museum Press.Google Scholar
Vazquez-Yanes, C. and Orozco-Segovia, A. (1993) Patterns of seed longevity and germination in the tropical rainforest. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics 24, 69–87.Google Scholar
Weerawardhena, S.R. and Russell, A.P. (2012) Cover-dependency of anurans in the Riverstone, Knuckles Mountain Forest Range, Sri Lanka. Taprobanica: The Journal of Asian Biodiversity 4, 12–19.Google Scholar