Seed germination of five Helianthemum species: Effect of temperature and presowing treatments

The germination behaviour of five Helianthemum species (H. almeriense, H. appeninum, H. cinereum, H. hirtum, H. squamatum) has been studied under controlled conditions. Constant 15, 20 or 25 °C and alternating 25/15 °C temperature regimes and 16/8 h light/dark photoperiod conditions were used. Presowing treatments applied were manual scarification, boiling water, hot water, dry heat and sulphuric acid. Germination values recorded were final germination percentage and germination rate expressed as days to reach 50% of the final germination percentage (T₅₀). Incubation temperature had no significant effect on final germination percentage for untreated seeds of the five Helianthemum species. However, variation due to temperature was significant for scarified seeds, with the lowest germination percentage attained at 25 °C. In all Helianthemum species studied, the highest germination percentages were obtained by manual scarification of seeds. Germination rate of scarified seeds decreased as germination temperature increased. The different presowing treatments investigated allowed some germination in some species, but none were any better than manual scarification. The high germination among most species studied, following mechanical rupture of the seed coat, shows that the mechanism of dormancy lies in the seed coat. The physical dormancy caused by impermeable seed-coat appears to be the main reason of poor germination of untreated seeds of Helianthemum species studied.     

Passage time, viability, and germination of seeds ingested by foxes

Seed passage through the gut of vertebrates is critical for endozoochorus seed dispersal because it may influence seed viability and germination capacity. Foxes are important fruit-eaters and presumed seed dispersers in the Chaco ecoregion. We experimentally assessed the seed passage time (SPT) and its effect on seed viability and germination in two fox species (Pseudalopex gymnocercus and Cerdocyon thous) that occur in the Chaco. Passage time was measured using both artificial seeds of three sizes and wild seeds of four native fleshy-fruit species commonly consumed by foxes (Ziziphus mistol, Acacia aroma, Celtis tala, and Syagrus romanzoffiana). The average SPT was 6.8 h for the Pampa fox and 7.7 h for the crab-eating fox. Passage time did not differ either among seeds of different sizes or between fox species. Passage through digestive tract of both fox species did not affect seed survival, whereas germination rate was slightly improved. Our data suggest that both fox species are legitimate seed dispersers of the four species studied, having a positive effect on both germination rate and dispersal distance from the parent plant.     

Temporal variability in the maternal environment and its effect on seed size and seed quality in Flourensia cernua DC. (Asteraceae).

The biological phenomenon commonly referred to as maternal effect occurs whenever the environment exerts an influence upon the mother that is later expressed in characteristics of her offsprings. For example, the environmental conditions experienced by a mother plant during flowering and fruiting can modify the quality of her descendants (seeds), and even interrupt their development. Between-year variation in minimum temperature and the classic, between-year variation in precipitation represent an unpredictable environment for winter blooming plants in arid zones. In this study, we investigated the effect of maternal environment (temperature and precipitation) on seed size and seed quality in F. cernua, over a 5-year period. Results indicated that the proportion of filled seeds, as well as their size, increased with higher absolute minimum temperatures during seed formation, and that, to a lesser extent, both the precipitation occurred during the same period and the annual precipitation also have a positive influence on seed size. In this way, environmental conditions prevailing during seed formation exerted a strong maternal effect on the size and quality of seeds produced and, probably also, in the developmental possibilities of F. cernua seedlings. This effect was subject to important, between-year variation.     

不同光质对坛紫菜果孢子和壳孢子萌发的影响

本研究探究了白、蓝、红、绿光4种光质对坛紫菜(Pyropia haitanensis)果孢子和壳孢子萌发的影响。结果表明,与白光相比,用绿光培养时,果孢子萌发管分枝形成速度、萌发管生长速度,以及壳孢子的细胞分裂速度均相对较快,用红光与蓝光培养时则相对较慢。不同光质对坛紫菜果孢子和壳孢子的存活率无显著影响,但能造成萌发体色泽呈现明显差异。刚从孢子囊释放出来的两种孢子均呈黄褐色,经白光培养的两种孢子以及蓝光培养的果孢子,其萌发体颜色加深至鲜红色,蓝光培养的壳孢子萌发体颜色加深尤为明显,最终呈深紫红色,而红光和绿光培养的两种孢子颜色变浅,最终呈浅黄褐色。研究表明,绿光培养可能不利于坛紫菜孢子萌发过程的色素积累,但有利于孢子萌发及萌发体的生长。     

Environmental limitations on recruitment from seed in invasive Spartina densiflora on a southern European salt marsh

The South American cordgrass, Spartina densiflora, has invaded a range of different habitats that can support different native species assemblages on salt marshes in the Gulf of Cadiz, Spain. Little is known about the mechanisms of invasion. We examined the potential for seed germination and recruitment in a field transplant experiment, representing a wide range of environments, on elevational gradients across marshes with muddy and sandy sediments. The biotic resistance of native, perennial vegetation (where present) to recruitment of the alien was also investigated. Spartina densiflora seeds were able to germinate over a greater than 2-m range of elevation in the tidal frame. Germination success on unvegetated muddy sediments was related to sediment redox potential, with poor germination at strongly negative redox potentials on the lower sites. On sandy, well-drained sediments, germination was apparently constrained by water availability at the highest elevations. Comparison of vegetated and cleared plots on the upper marsh showed that there was a negative relationship between the presence of Atriplex portulacoides and germination on the muddy sediments. Recruitment (survival of seedlings for 12 weeks) was seen only on unvegetated muddy sediments at the highest elevation. Hence the invasive success and wide elevational tolerance of S. densiflora on the marshes of the Gulf of Cadiz are not reflected in its short-term ability to become established from its prolific seed production. Colonization of sub-optimal habitats may be largely by vegetative propagules and clonal growth.     

Distribution and germination of viable diatom resting stage cells in sediments of the East China Sea

The abundance and temporal patterns of viable diatom resting stage cells in sediments of the East China Sea in 2006 have been investigated. The abundance of viable resting stages was enumerated with the most probable number (MPN) technique. Overall, 25 diatom species (including varieties) belonging to 16 genera were detected. Viable resting stage cells were common, on the order of 10³ to 10⁶ cells/g dry mass. The abundant taxa included Skeletonema marina, S. dohrnii, Chaetoceros curvisetus and Thalassiosira spp., with Skeletonema accounting for 83.3% of the cell. The effects of temperature (10, 15, 20, 25℃), salinity (20, 25, 30, 35 psu) and light intensity (0, 300, 4 000, 8 000 lux) on the germination of resting stages in sediment samples were also determined. The results showed that light intensity had a significant positive effect on the germination of diatom resting stage cells (p <0.01) and that diatoms could not germinate in darkness. Temperature and salinity had no noticeable effects on the germination. The present study suggests that there are abundant diatom resting cells in sediments of the East China Sea, which could serve as a "seed bank" in the phytoplankton population succession and contribute to the initiation of algal blooms.     

腐解9个月后杉木枯枝落叶化感物质对杉木的化感作用

采用有机溶剂与蒸馏水混和浸提杉木枯枝落叶腐解9个月后化感物质,应用杉木种子发芽试验进行生物检测.结果表明:杉木枯枝落叶腐解9个月后,杉木枯枝落叶中的弱极性化感物质对绝对发芽率、绝对发芽势、胚根长、胚轴长及干物质量等指标表现为抑制作用,对鲜物质量则表现为轻微的促进作用;极性化感物质对杉木种子发芽各指标均等表现为抑制作用.腐解土中的弱极性化感物质对杉木种子发芽各指标均表现为抑制作用,极性化感物质对绝对发芽率、绝对发芽势、胚轴长及干物质量等表现为抑制作用,但对胚根长、鲜物质量表现为促进作用.     

刚毛柽柳种子萌发对盐分与干旱胁迫的响应

通过对不同温度、盐分和干旱胁迫对刚毛柽柳种子萌发实验研究影响,结果表明:刚毛柽柳种子的适宜萌发温度范围为10~35℃,萌发率高达80%以上,且萌发迅速。不同浓度NaCl溶液对刚毛柽柳种子萌发有明显抑制作用,种子萌发率随NaCl溶液浓度的增大而下降,到0.7 mol/L时,萌发率仅为1.67%,种子发芽受到抑制。相同渗透势PEG-6 000溶液中的萌发率低于NaCl溶液,渗透势为-0.5 MPa是二者影响作用的分界点。渗透势为-1.8 MPa时,萌发率已急剧下降到0,其对种子萌发的抑制作用大于NaCl溶液。将在两溶液中处理10天的种子转移至蒸馏水后,随着NaCl溶液浓度的增大,萌发恢复率逐渐升高,0.7 mol/L时,萌发恢复率为60%;随着PEG-6 000溶液浓度增大,萌发恢复率先升高后降低,渗透势为-1.4 MPa时,种子萌发恢复率达到最大为67.5%,但两种处理下种子的最终萌发率(总萌发率)都低于在蒸馏水中的。     

腐解9个月后杉木枯枝落叶化感物质对杉木的化感作用

采用有机溶剂与蒸馏水混和浸提杉木枯枝落叶腐解9个月后化感物质,应用杉木种子发芽试验进行生物检测.结果表明:杉木枯枝落叶腐解9个月后,杉木枯枝落叶中的弱极性化感物质对绝对发芽率、绝对发芽势、胚根长、胚轴长及干物质量等指标表现为抑制作用,对鲜物质量则表现为轻微的促进作用;极性化感物质对杉木种子发芽各指标均等表现为抑制作用.腐解土中的弱极性化感物质对杉木种子发芽各指标均表现为抑制作用,极性化感物质对绝对发芽率、绝对发芽势、胚轴长及干物质量等表现为抑制作用,但对胚根长、鲜物质量表现为促进作用.     

When seed fails: The contested nature of neoliberalism in South Korea

In recent years, many geographers have examined the ways that the production of nature has changed as a result of neoliberal practices. In this paper we examine a conflict in South Korea that started when some Chinese-cabbage seeds were affected by a virus, causing crop failure. This failure came shortly after liberalization in the Korean seed industry led to foreign ownership of the firm that sold the seed. We focus in particular on the farmers’ creative political responses - and their subsequent defeat in court. Drawing on Antonio Gramsci’s insights on politics, science, and law, we examine how the seed failure came to be evaluated through scientific and legal practices. We argue that the adjudication of the truth of the seed failure through science and law reveals how socionatures are contested under prevailing hegemonic conditions. These conditions are both general and specific: although law and science are relatively hegemonic spheres of truth-production in all capitalist societies, the ways that the seeds were disputed and evaluated were distinctly Korean.