Dispersal and germination ofProsopis flexuosa(Fabaceae) seeds by desert mammals in Argentina

The ‘algarrobo’Prosopis flexuosais an important food resource in the Monte Desert of Argentina. Native, domestic, and exotic mammals consume the fruit of this legume and disperse the seed through faeces. In the present study we analyse the effect that different dispersal agents (cattle, horse, European wild boar, rodents, gray fox) have on seed damage, viability, and germination. Cattle increase germination at the expense of reduced viability, whereas horses maintain viability but do not contribute to a prompt germination response. Among native mammals, the gray fox maintains seed viability without increasing germination, whereas rodents affect seed viability but enhance germination rates. The European wild boar, however, damages all of the seeds it consumes.     

盐胁迫对西葫芦和黄瓜种子萌发影响的对比研究

用不同浓度的地下盐水胁迫西葫芦和黄瓜种子萌发，观察其发芽率和萌发后幼苗生长情况，计算其发芽指数和活力指数，进行了对比分析。结果表明：西葫芦种子萌发对盐水生境的适应性比黄瓜强，西葫芦种子萌发的盐胁迫适宜值为０．６１ｇ／１００ｃｍ３，而黄瓜为０．３６ｇ／１００ｃｍ３。     

Seedling recruitment in a semi-arid steppe: The role of microsite and post-dispersal seed predation

Grasslands dominated by Stipa tenacissima are important ecosystems in the arid and semiarid climates of western Mediterranean, where they have originated by degradation of open dry forests and shrublands. At present, although the level of exploitation in these ecosystems is very low, succession processes seem to have stopped. In this study, we explore the role of microsite and post-dispersal seed predation on the seedling emergence of two species from advanced successional stages (Rhamnus lycioides, Quercus coccifera), three species from degraded stages (Cistus clusii, Helianthemum violaceum, Anthyllis terniflora), and of the dominant species (Stipa tenacissima). Seeds of these species were sown in plots divided into two microsites: (i) under tussocks of S. tenacissima and (ii) in the bare soil between tussocks. Soil moisture was significantly higher in the tussock microsites. The interaction observed between microsite and time, reflected the slower drying process under tussocks. Seed predation was in general high and differed significantly between species but not between microsites. Q. coccifera was especially affected by predation. The only germination detected in gap areas was that of H. violaceum. The results pointed to a direct facilitative effect of tussock grass on the germination in R. lycioides (20.4±8.0%) and S. tenacissima (41.3±5.7%) while the corresponding figures for bare ground were 0%. These results suggest that the recovery of potential vegetation in this ecosystem is not possible or, at least, is very slow because the residual shrub patches do not generate a sufficient number of seeds able to disperse to favorable germination microsites. S. tenacissima may act as facilitator of seedling recruitment if there is a supply of diaspores.     

Germination strategies of two halophytes in Salt Desert of northwestern China

The effects of temperatures and salinities on germination of two halophytes, Kalidium capsicum and Suaeda physophora in northwestern China, were tested, and their seed size and seed production were compared. It was found that seed of Suaeda physophora germinate under 10℃, even about 0℃, and at a wide temperature range of 10―30℃. It showed about 50% germination in the concentration up to 0.7 mol/L NaCl; optimum germination temperature of Kalidium capsicum was between 20℃ and 30℃. The concentration of less than 0.3 mol/L NaCl inhibited absolutely its germination. Germination recovery was observed when salinities were reduced and total germination percentage exceeded 90%. Seeds of Kalidium capsicum showed no loss of viability while Suaeda physophora an annual loss of viability of 75% at room temperature. Mean weight of seeds of Suaeda physophora was about 8.5 times of Kalidium capsicum, whereas the number of seeds of the latter was more than 20 times of the former. Suaeda physophora was observed to be dependent on periodic precipitation in germination and seedling growth. It suggests the evident trace of the species with zonation pattern. On the other hand, the germination of Kalidium capsicum was affected by unpredictable rain and inundation. This species might be a type without zonation patterns in halophytes. It was concluded that both species are halophytes, but they are established successfully by different adaptation strategies in the early stage of life history.     

骆驼蓬属（Peganum L.）种子氨基酸组成及其系统学意义

本文分析了我国西北地区骆驼蓬属植物种子中总氨基酸和游离氨基酸的组成。结果表明：均以天冬氨酸、苏氨酸、丝氨酸、谷氨酸、缬氨酸、精氨酸和脯氨酸为主要组成。其中，苏氨酸含量最高。分别达２８．６３％和２６．１５％。在一定意义上反映了该分类群的同源性和遗传稳定性。多裂骆驼蓬在精氨酸和亮氨酸的含量上与骆驼蓬有较显著差异，为该种的独立提供了又一佐证。不同生境下，多裂骆驼蓬种子中游离脯氨酸含量随干旱胁迫减弱而降低     

蒙古扁桃种子雨散布及种子萌发特性研究

以蒙古扁桃（Amygdalus mongolica Maxim）种群和种子为研究材料,通过物理特性、休眠特性、萌发特性的研究,探讨种群致濒因素。结果表明,蒙古扁桃种子比重、体积和千粒重大,散布时间较集中,散布格局是聚集型散布,散布主要依靠自身重力,靠动物散布和水力作用的散布,使种子能传播较远的距离。制约种子萌发的主要因素是种皮障碍和生理休眠（10%）,采用35 ℃条件下处理72 h后机械破除果皮可破除种子休眠,种子低温（2~5 ℃）层积处理能极显著（P <0.01）提高活力,种子变温（5~10 ℃）层积能极显著（P <0.01）提高发芽率和活力,种子萌发对光照不敏感。蒙古扁桃种子休眠较浅,种子萌发所需温度较低,冬前进入土壤库的种子迅速萌发,因不能度过严冬而死亡,是致濒的主要原因。封冻时进入土壤库的种子,在种皮保护下越冬,仍有很高成苗率,开展人工繁育是拯救蒙古扁桃资源的直接措施。     

供水量及沙埋厚度对两种梭梭出苗的影响

 在自然条件下,研究了沙埋和单次供水对梭梭（Haloxylon ammodendron）、白梭梭（Haloxylon persicum）种子萌发和幼苗出土的影响。结果表明,在试验期内（30 d）,梭梭、白梭梭出苗率随沙埋厚度和供水量的增加出现先增加后减少的趋势;出苗速率（除无沙埋）也呈现出相同趋势;死亡率和死亡速率为减少的趋势。在供水量为20～40 mm时梭梭、白梭梭种子适宜出苗,适宜供水量接近当地冬季平均降雪量;沙埋厚度为 0.5～1.0 cm的条件下出苗率较高,反映了梭梭、白梭梭对沙区环境的生态适应。根据古尔班通古特沙漠气候特点与本次试验结果,梭梭与白梭梭的人工播种辅助恢复应在早春融雪之前进行。     

生物土壤结皮与种子附属物对4种荒漠植物种子萌发的交互影响

生物土壤结皮能直接或间接地影响维管植物种子萌发与群落建成,种子本身的生物学特征（如种子附属物等）对萌发也存在一定影响。本研究选取古尔班通古特沙漠4种常见的具有不同形态附属物的藜科植物（梭梭（Haloxylon ammodendron ）、粗枝猪毛菜（Salsola subcrassa ）、心叶驼绒藜（Ceratoides ewersmanniana ）和角果藜（Ceratocarpus arenarius ））种子,设置苔藓结皮、地衣结皮和裸沙3种土壤基质,通过去除或保留种子附属物,对比研究了生物土壤结皮与种子附属物对种子萌发的影响。结果表明：粗枝猪毛菜和梭梭的苞片显著抑制了种子萌发（p <0.05）,心叶驼绒藜的柔毛和角果藜的刺状附属物对种子萌发没有显著影响（p >0.05）。与裸沙相比,苔藓结皮显著抑制了4种植物种子的萌发（p <0.05）,地衣结皮显著抑制了粗枝猪毛菜种子的萌发（p <0.01）,而对其他3种植物种子的萌发无显著影响（p >0.05）。同时,附属物与结皮对粗枝猪毛菜种子的萌发还具有交互作用,表现为显著抑制种子萌发（p <0.01）。可见,生物土壤结皮对具有不同附属物的荒漠植物种子萌发具有不同的影响,进而造成维管植物种子萌发的空间异质性,影响维管植物分布和多样性。     

盐分与水分胁迫对两种猪毛菜种子萌发的影响

通过对盐分与水分胁迫对钠猪毛菜和紫翅猪毛菜种子萌发的影响的分析,结果显示:钠猪毛菜与紫翅猪毛菜种子萌发的最适温度分别为25℃和20℃。在盐溶液和PEG溶液中,两个种子的萌发规律相似,都是随着水势的降低,萌发率和萌发速率下降。在盐胁迫下钠猪毛菜种子萌发的最低水势接近-7.2 MPa,紫翅猪毛菜种子萌发的最低水势接近-6.15 MPa;在水分胁迫下两种种子萌发的最低水势均未超过-2.0 MPa。并且在相同水势下,钠猪毛菜的最终萌发率、萌发指数高于紫翅猪毛菜。两个种对盐分胁迫的忍耐能力超过对水分胁迫。适宜萌发温度下,钠猪毛菜与紫翅猪毛菜的耐盐极限值分别为-6.29 MPa和-6.03 MPa。     

土壤湿度对小麦出苗及幼苗生长的影响

土壤水分不适能显著影响小麦出苗及幼苗生长，表现为显著降低出苗率，减少单位面积的苗数；同时显著影响幼苗单株生长，表现为干重、叶面积下降。土壤水分不适对小麦群体的影响表现为单位面积的干重和叶面积指数（LAI）下降。采用通径分析衡量了出苗率和单株幼苗生长两因子对群体影响的大小。结果表明：单位面积干重下降主因是单株干重下降，叶面积指数下降主因是出苗率下降。土壤湿度大于17％且小于44％时，对小麦出苗及幼苗生长各项指标的影响幅度一般在20％以内，而低于17％或高于44％的土壤湿度对小麦的影响幅度急剧增加。小麦对土壤水分不适具有一定的适应性反应。