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Physiological dormancy in seeds of two endemic species of Begonia from Yunnan Province, China: diagnosis and classification
Author(s) -
HU XIAOJIAN,
YANG LIHUA,
GUAN KAIYUN
Publication year - 2012
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/j.1442-1984.2011.00344.x
Subject(s) - begonia , germination , biology , dormancy , seed dormancy , botany , gibberellic acid , canopy , horticulture
With the purpose of assessing the status of dormancy in seeds of two Begonia species ( Begonia lithophila and Begonia guishanensis ), freshly matured seeds were given gibberellic acid and moist chilling and allowed to dry after ripening. The seeds were then germinated on media with or without KNO 3 at 15, 20, 25, 30 and 18/25°C. All three treatments significantly increased germination percentages. Examination by X‐ray revealed that seeds of both species have a fully developed embryo and thus have no morphological component of dormancy; seeds readily imbibed water and KNO 3 solution. Therefore, we conclude that seeds of the two Begonia species have non‐deep physiological dormancy. Although KNO 3 significantly increased germination in both species, alternating temperatures did not, suggesting that the most favorable microhabitat for germination is small‐scale disturbances under the forest canopy.