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Dependency of seed dormancy types on embryo traits and environmental conditions in R ibes species
Author(s) -
Mattana E.,
Stuppy W. H.,
Fraser R.,
Waller J.,
Pritchard H. W.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
plant biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.871
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1438-8677
pISSN - 1435-8603
DOI - 10.1111/plb.12115
Subject(s) - biology , dormancy , germination , seed dormancy , embryo , botany , horticulture , genetics
The hypothesis that seed dormancy may be dependent on environmental conditions and seed morphological traits was tested for six R ibes species, across an altitudinal gradient of 1300 m and a longitudinal separation of 120°. Embryo measurements and seed germination experiments were conducted for R . alpinum L., R . hudsonianum Richardson var. petiolare ( D ouglas) J ancz., R . nevadaense K ellogg, R . roezlii R egel var . cruentum ( G reene) R ehder and R . speciosum P ursh, and data taken from the literature for R . multiflorum Kit . ex S chult. ssp . sandalioticum A rrigoni. Germination was compared with seed viability to reveal proportional seed dormancy, which was then correlated to seed/embryo morphological traits and these traits related to the seed provenance environment. The embryos of all the investigated species are linear underdeveloped and all had a morphological component of seed dormancy ( MD ). Seeds of R . roezlii , R . hudsonianum and R . nevadaense required a temperature and/or hormone pre‐treatment in order to germinate, highlighting morphophysiological seed dormancy ( MPD ). Seed dormancy was found to be strongly negatively correlated with embryo length, but not with embryo to seed (E:S) ratio or seed mass. Initial embryo length was positively related to mean annual temperature. Seed dormancy in the investigated R ibes species could be quantified and predicted by the interaction of embryo traits and environmental conditions. This approach may be helpful in assessing and predicting seed dormancy in the R ibes genus and in other genera and families with underdeveloped embryos.