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Seed size an important factor for the germination response of legume seeds subjected to simulated post-fire soil temperatures

Seed size an important factor for the germination response of legume seeds subjected to simulated... Potential impacts of soil temperatures in a post-fire environment were examined for seeds of legume species with a physical seed dormancy typically found in the eucalypt communities in eastern Australia. Soil temperatures in a post-fire environment may be elevated owing to increased solar radiation and this may influence germination of species with soil-stored seed banks. Seeds were heated at 50, 60 or 70C, with one unheated control, for 3h per day for 5 days to simulate soil temperatures where canopy gaps existed. More germination of small-seeded species (<12.6mg) occurred owing to changes in simulated soil temperatures than large-seeded species (>14.0mg). Temperatures up to 70C significantly increased the germination of species with relatively small-sized seeds than large-seeded species (>70C). This study demonstrated that small-seeded species are able to germinate across a range of temperatures (5070C) and can have dormancy broken either during the passage of a fire, or after fire from increased solar radiation, potentially resulting in the decline of the post-fire residual soil seed bank. In contrast, post-fire germination of large-seeded species may be dependent solely on the degree of soil heating during the passage of fire and the species may have a relatively stable residual soil seed bank thereafter. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png International Journal of Wildland Fire CSIRO Publishing

Seed size an important factor for the germination response of legume seeds subjected to simulated post-fire soil temperatures

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References (60)

Publisher
CSIRO Publishing
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s). Published by CSIRO Publishing
ISSN
1049-8001
eISSN
1448-5516
DOI
10.1071/WF19027
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Potential impacts of soil temperatures in a post-fire environment were examined for seeds of legume species with a physical seed dormancy typically found in the eucalypt communities in eastern Australia. Soil temperatures in a post-fire environment may be elevated owing to increased solar radiation and this may influence germination of species with soil-stored seed banks. Seeds were heated at 50, 60 or 70C, with one unheated control, for 3h per day for 5 days to simulate soil temperatures where canopy gaps existed. More germination of small-seeded species (<12.6mg) occurred owing to changes in simulated soil temperatures than large-seeded species (>14.0mg). Temperatures up to 70C significantly increased the germination of species with relatively small-sized seeds than large-seeded species (>70C). This study demonstrated that small-seeded species are able to germinate across a range of temperatures (5070C) and can have dormancy broken either during the passage of a fire, or after fire from increased solar radiation, potentially resulting in the decline of the post-fire residual soil seed bank. In contrast, post-fire germination of large-seeded species may be dependent solely on the degree of soil heating during the passage of fire and the species may have a relatively stable residual soil seed bank thereafter.

Journal

International Journal of Wildland FireCSIRO Publishing

Published: Mar 31, 2020

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