Chin J Plan Ecolo ›› 2003, Vol. 27 ›› Issue (5): 661-666.DOI: 10.17521/cjpe.2003.0096

• Research Articles • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Seed Germinating Characteristics of the Endangered Plant Abies chensiensis

LAI Jiang-Shan, Li Qing-Mei, XIE Zong-Qiang   

  • Published:2003-05-10
  • Contact: YANG Xiao-Jie and SUN Zhi-Lin

Abstract:

Abies chensiensis, an endangered plant mainly distributed in Qinling Mountains and Dabashan Mountains, was listed as one of national protected plants at second category in China. There have been no reports about the study of seed germinating characteristics of A. chensiensis until now. The objectives of this study were to 1) identify whether cold stratification was effective for breaking the dormancy of A. chensiensis seeds and find out the optimum duration of cold stratification; 2) determine the optimal temperature for germination and whether alternating temperatures affected germination; 3) test whether germination was affected by light; 4) choose the better germination texture between silver sand and filter paper.The 1 000-seed weight of A. chensiensis was (33.92±1.01) g, which was higher than other fir seeds. The viability of seedlot was tested by TTC (1.0 %). The results of seed dissection, reflecting the high seed abortion, showed that the percentages of viable seeds, empty seeds and shrunken seeds were 26.00%, 20.50% and 33.75%, respectively. Germination tests were performed to determine the effects of cold stratification (4 ℃ for 0, 14, 21 and 28 days), temperatures (two constant temperatures 20 ℃, 25 ℃ and an alternating 20-30 ℃), light (in light of 8 h·d-1, 100μmol·m-2·s-1 and in darkness) and germination textures (filter paper and silver sand) on germination rate. The results showed that cold stratification could increase seed germination percentage and germination energy; the longer the duration of cold stratification, the higher the germination rate; but the percentages of germination energy did not increase if the duration was longer than 21 days. 25 ℃ was not better for the seed germination percentage, but was better for germination energy than the other two temperature regimes, because a 9-day treatment showed 90% of the biggest germination percentage in 25 ℃; and the alternating 20-30 ℃ did not increase the germination percentages of the seeds of A. chensiensis. Compared with those in darkness, light (8 h·d-1, 100μmol·m-2·s-1) did not increase germination percentages, although it did increase germination energy; light was not indispensable for germination of A. chensiensis seeds, but did accelerate the process of germination. Great differences were found for germination percentage and germination energy in two germination textures; the percentages of germination and germination energy on silver sand were 19.75% and 16.75% respectively, but 8.00% and 6.00% on filter paper. The result showed that the silver sand was a better germination texture for A. chensiensis seeds than filter paper, perhaps because silver sand could offer more sufficient water for the germination of bigger seeds such as A. chensiensis than filter paper.