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The germination niches of grassland species targeted for restoration
- Restoration of semi-natural grassland communities
involves a combination of (1) sward disturbance to
create a temporal window for establishment, and (2)
target species introduction, the latter usually by seed
sowing. With great regularity, particular species
establish only poorly. More reliable establishment
could improve outcome of restoration projects and
increase cost-effectiveness. We investigated the
abiotic germination niche of ten poorly establishing
calcareous grassland species by simultaneously
exploring the effects of moisture and light availability
and temperature fluctuation on percentage germina-
tion and speed of germination. We also investigated
the effects of three different pre-treatments used to
enhance seed germination – cold-stratification, osmo-
tic priming and priming in combination with gibberellic
acid (GA 3 ) – and how these affected abiotic
germination niches. Species varied markedly in width
of abiotic germination niche, ranging from Carex flacca
with very strict abiotic requirements, toRestoration of semi-natural grassland communities
involves a combination of (1) sward disturbance to
create a temporal window for establishment, and (2)
target species introduction, the latter usually by seed
sowing. With great regularity, particular species
establish only poorly. More reliable establishment
could improve outcome of restoration projects and
increase cost-effectiveness. We investigated the
abiotic germination niche of ten poorly establishing
calcareous grassland species by simultaneously
exploring the effects of moisture and light availability
and temperature fluctuation on percentage germina-
tion and speed of germination. We also investigated
the effects of three different pre-treatments used to
enhance seed germination – cold-stratification, osmo-
tic priming and priming in combination with gibberellic
acid (GA 3 ) – and how these affected abiotic
germination niches. Species varied markedly in width
of abiotic germination niche, ranging from Carex flacca
with very strict abiotic requirements, to several species
reliably germinating across the whole range of abiotic
conditions. Our results suggest pronounced differ-
ences between species in gap requirements for
establishment. Germination was improved in most
species by at least one pre-treatment. Evidence for
positive effects of adding GA 3 to seed priming
solutions was limited. In several species, pre-treated
seeds germinated under a wider range of abiotic
conditions than untreated seeds. Improved knowledge
of species-specific germination niches and the effects
of seed pre-treatments may help to improve species
establishment by sowing, and to identify species for
which sowing at a later stage of restoration or
introduction as small plants may represent a more
viable strategy.…
Author details: | Markus Wagner, Richard F. PywellORCiD, Tatjana Knopp, James M. Bullock, Matthew S. Heard |
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URN: | urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-413438 |
DOI: | https://doi.org/10.25932/publishup-41343 |
ISSN: | 1866-8372 |
Title of parent work (English): | Postprints der Universität Potsdam : Mathematisch Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe |
Subtitle (English): | effects of seed pre-treatments |
Publication series (Volume number): | Zweitveröffentlichungen der Universität Potsdam : Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe (675) |
Publication type: | Postprint |
Language: | English |
Date of first publication: | 2019/03/07 |
Publication year: | 2011 |
Publishing institution: | Universität Potsdam |
Release date: | 2019/03/07 |
Tag: | abiotic germination niche; calcareous grassland species; cold-stratification; osmotic seed priming; seed sowing; temperature fluctuation |
Issue: | 675 |
Number of pages: | 15 |
First page: | 117 |
Last Page: | 131 |
Source: | Seed Science Research 21 (2011) 2, pp. 117–131 DOI https://doi.org/10.1017/S0960258510000450 |
Organizational units: | Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Fakultät |
DDC classification: | 5 Naturwissenschaften und Mathematik / 58 Pflanzen (Botanik) / 580 Pflanzen (Botanik) |
Peer review: | Referiert |
Publishing method: | Open Access |
Grantor: | Cambridge University Press (CUP) |
License (German): | ![]() |