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Seedling emergence patterns and dormancy/germination physiology of Primula modesta in a subalpine region
Author(s) -
SHIMONO Ayako,
WASHITANI Izumi
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
ecological research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.628
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1440-1703
pISSN - 0912-3814
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1703.2004.00667.x
Subject(s) - seedling , germination , dormancy , biology , microsite , primulaceae , grassland , seed dormancy , herbaceous plant , plant ecology , agronomy , habitat , vegetation (pathology) , botany , ecology , medicine , pathology
On the basis of the germination/dormancy responses of seeds to temperature and light, and local seed rain, we attempted to interpret the seedling emergence patterns of Primula modesta Bisset et Moore (Primulaceae) in two different types of habitats in a subalpine zone of Mt. Asama: an oligotrophic flat moor and a grassland with relatively dense herbaceous vegetation cover. The seasonal pattern of seedling emergence was well explained by the dormancy/germination physiology revealed in laboratory germination tests. The seeds were demonstrated to have a strict light requirement even after experiencing moist chilling, which might facilitate the incorporation of the seeds into the soil seed bank. Despite sufficient seed production, the seedlings emerging were far less at the grassy site than the moor site, but the number of seedlings was significantly dependent on the seed rain within previous season and on the litter cover of the microsite in both sites. Therefore, the spatiotemporal patterns of seedling emergence in the habitats could be well explained by the spatiotemporal patterns of seed rain and safe‐sites for germination.