A soil heat sum model for predicting seed germination
Home » A soil heat sum model for predicting seed germination

A soil heat sum model for predicting seed germination

The thermal requirements for seed dormancy release and germination of Rhamnus persicifolia, an endemic tree species restricted to mountain streams.

A soil heat sum model for predicting seed germination
A soil heat sum model for predicting seed germination

Mediterranean mountain species face exacting ecological conditions of rainy, cold winters and arid, hot summers, which affect seed germination phenology. Porceddu et al. quantify the thermal requirements for seed dormancy release and germination of Rhamnus persicifolia, an endemic tree species restricted to mountain streams. They find that seeds exhibit physiological dormancy, with base temperature (Tb) and thermal time requirements (θ50) for germination decreasing systematically with cold stratification. By integrating Tb and θ50 values with soil heat sum estimates, spring emergence in the field can be successfully predicted, both underneath and outside of the tree canopy, and the model may be of use for predicting in situ germination of other species.

botanyone

The Annals of Botany Office is based at the University of Oxford.

Read this in your language

The Week in Botany

On Monday mornings we send out a newsletter of the links that have been catching the attention of our readers on Twitter and beyond. You can sign up to receive it below.

@BotanyOne on Mastodon

Loading Mastodon feed...

Audio


Archive