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Seed development in the rare cold desert sand dune shrub E remosparton songoricum and a comparison with other papilionoid legumes
Author(s) -
Liu HuiLiang,
Abudureheman Buhailiqiemu,
Baskin Jerry M.,
Baskin Carol C.,
Zhang DaoYuan
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
plant species biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.419
H-Index - 36
eISSN - 1442-1984
pISSN - 0913-557X
DOI - 10.1111/1442-1984.12098
Subject(s) - germination , shrub , biology , desiccation , sand dune stabilization , dormancy , seed dormancy , botany , desiccation tolerance , horticulture , pollination , imbibition , deserts and xeric shrublands , water content , agronomy , ecology , habitat , pollen , geotechnical engineering , engineering
No study has yet been carried out on seed development in a cold desert sand dune papilionoid legume. Thus, our primary aims were to (i) monitor seed development in the cold desert sand dune species E remosparton songoricum from the time of pollination to seed maturity, and (ii) compare seed development in this species with that in other species of papilionoid legumes. Fruit and seed size, mass and seed moisture content, and seed imbibition, germination, desiccation tolerance and water retention during development (pollination to seed maturity) were monitored in the papilionaceous shrub E . songoricum in the G urbantunggut D esert of northwest C hina. The duration of seed development was 40 days. Seeds reached physiological maturity 28 days after pollination ( DAP ), at which time 58% of them germinated and they had developed desiccation tolerance. Seeds became impermeable 36–40 DAP , when their moisture content was about 10%. The final stage of maturation drying occurred via loss of water through the hilum. The developmental stages and their timing ( DAP ) in seeds of E . songoricum are generally similar to those reported for other papilionaceous legumes with a water‐impermeable seed coat (physical dormancy). In general, the developmental features of seeds with water‐impermeable coats at maturity do not appear to be specific to habitat or phylogeny.