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Versatility in the timing of seed germination of the cold desert herbaceous perennial Leontice incerta (Berberidaceae)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 May 2020

Jannathan Mamut Open the ORCID record for Jannathan Mamut [Opens in a new window] ,
Cai-Yun Zhang ,
Dun-Yan Tan ,
Carol C. Baskin  and
Jerry M. Baskin
Jannathan Mamut
Affiliation:
Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Grassland Resources and Ecology and Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Western Arid Region Grassland Resources and Ecology, College of Grassland and Environment Sciences, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Ürümqi830052, China
Cai-Yun Zhang
Affiliation:
Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Grassland Resources and Ecology and Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Western Arid Region Grassland Resources and Ecology, College of Grassland and Environment Sciences, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Ürümqi830052, China
Dun-Yan Tan*
Affiliation:
Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Grassland Resources and Ecology and Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Western Arid Region Grassland Resources and Ecology, College of Grassland and Environment Sciences, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Ürümqi830052, China
Carol C. Baskin
Affiliation:
Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Grassland Resources and Ecology and Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Western Arid Region Grassland Resources and Ecology, College of Grassland and Environment Sciences, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Ürümqi830052, China Department of Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY40506, USA Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY40546, USA
Jerry M. Baskin
Affiliation:
Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Grassland Resources and Ecology and Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Western Arid Region Grassland Resources and Ecology, College of Grassland and Environment Sciences, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Ürümqi830052, China Department of Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY40506, USA
*
Correspondence: Dun-Yan Tan, E-mail: tandunyan@163.com
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Abstract

Only a few studies have been performed on seed germination of perennial ephemeral species native to the cold deserts of central Asia. We hypothesized that seeds of the cold desert perennial ephemeral Leontice incerta exhibit versatility in the timing of germination, that is, having the capacity to germinate at any time in summer, autumn and next spring. At dispersal in late May, only about 30% of the seeds could germinate; thus, a high percentage of the seeds was dormant. Seeds had a fully developed embryo, and dry storage, cold stratification, warm stratification and gibberellin promoted germination; we concluded that they have non-deep physiological dormancy. Seeds buried under natural conditions during summer germinated to 57–86% in autumn (late October) when exhumed and incubated at 5/2–25/15°C. However, seeds were sown in soil exposed to natural temperature and (low) precipitation did not germinate until next spring when the soil was moist. Thus, like various cold desert annuals, seeds of the perennial L. incerta can germinate in summer, autumn and next spring, depending on the availability of soil moisture (rainfall). Rainfall in cold deserts can play an important role in shaping seed germination traits of desert plants.

Keywords

cold desertgermination ecophysiologyherbaceous perennialLeontice incertaphysiological dormancy
Type
Research Paper
Information
Seed Science Research , Volume 30 , Issue 1 , March 2020 , pp. 37 - 44
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Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2020

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