Role of temperature and light in the germination ecology of buried seeds of weedy species of disturbed forests. I. Lobelia inflata

J. M. Baskin, C. C. Baskin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

25 Scopus citations

Abstract

Temperature and light requirements for germination were determiend at 12-h daily thermoperiods of 15:6, 20:10, 25:15, 30:15, and 35:20°C for seeds exhumed after 0-28 months of burial in soil at near-natural temperatures. At maturity in autumn 1987, 2-15% of the seeds germinated after 15 days incubation at the five thermoperiods in light but 0% germinated in darkness. By January 1988, 68-100% of the seeds germinated in light at all thermoperiods except 15:6°C. Germination at 20:10, 25:15, and 30:15°C did not decrease to below 60% during the remainder of the study, and germination at 35:20°C was <60% only four times. Germination at 15:6°C was erratic with peaks in spring 1988, and in spring to early summer and autumn 1989. Regardless of the season in which seeds were exhumed, they did not germinate in darkness. In a laboratory study, stratification at 5°C broke dormancy but did not substitute for the light requirement. Seeds of L. inflata have the potential to form long-lived seed banks, and buried seeds can germinate at any time during the growing season if exposed to light. -from Authors

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)589-592
Number of pages4
JournalCanadian Journal of Botany
Volume70
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 1992

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Plant Science

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