Seed Dormancy of Trees and Shrubs.ppt

Seed Dormancy of Trees and Shrubs by Jill Barbour Germination Specialist Organic Seed Dormancy Endogenous embryo characteristic prevents germination-epicotyl, hypocotyl, radical Exogenous characteristic of structures - seed coats, fruit walls, including endosperm or perisperm prevents germination Types of Seed Dormancy Physiological Morphological Morphophysiological Physical Physical physiological Chemical Mechanical Physiological Dormancy Nondeep Intermediate Deep Causes of Physiological Dormancy Covering restricts oxygen Inhibitors in coverings Embryo cannot break through physical barriers Endosperm restrict embryo growth Interaction between embryo and covering Abies alba, Castanea sativa, Corylus avellana, Euonymus europaeus, Juglans nigra, Juglans regia, Juniperus, Prunus avium,Rhamnus frangula, Vaccinium myrtillus Carpinus requires warm followed by cold stratification Elaeagnus umbellata- chemicals shortened prechilling increase germination Nondeep Physiological Dormancy Germinate over a narrow range of temperatures Excised embryos usually grow Broken by short periods of prechilling Require germination temperature above 15°C Broken by chemicals- potassium nitrate, thiourea, kinetin, ethylene, gibberellins Light required for germination Arbutus unedo –can germinate in dark Ulmus glabra- no prechill Vaccinium- long period of light required, GA reduces length of light Intermediate Physiological Dormancy Excised embryos will grow As much as 6 months prechilling needed Gibberellins, kinetin, thiourea can shorten prechilling requirement Acer negundo, Acer pseudoplatanus, Acer saccharum, Corylus avellana, Fraxinus americana, Fraxinus pennsylvanica Fagus sylvatica – ethylene accelerated and increased germination at 15°C, at 5°C chemicals no better than water soak on germination, GA3 increased germination of unchilled seeds at 15°C, 10 weeks prechill negate chemical effect (Seed Sci 2004, p21-33) Deep Physiological Dormancy Excised embryos do not grow