Chin J Plant Ecol ›› 2008, Vol. 32 ›› Issue (5): 1084-1090.DOI: 10.3773/j.issn.1005-264x.2008.05.013

• Original article • Previous Articles     Next Articles

EFFECTS OF LIGHT AND TEMPERATURE ON SEED GERMINATION OF FICUS HISPIDA IN XISHUANGBANNA, SOUTHWEST CHINA

CHEN Hui1,2,*(), ZHANG Shuang1,2, CAO Min1   

  1. 1Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China
    2Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
  • Received:2008-01-25 Accepted:2008-05-05 Online:2008-01-25 Published:2008-09-30
  • Contact: CHEN Hui

Abstract:

Aims Ficus hispida is a common pioneer tree species in the tropical secondary forests of Xishuangbanna, China. Our objective was to determine effects of light and temperature on seed germination of F. hispida to understand its response to forest microenvironments.

Methods Our experiments were carried out in incubator with 14 h light/10 h dark treatments. Experiments to test the effects of temperature on germination were conducted at 35/25, 35/20, 30/20, 25/15 and 30 ℃ under fluorescent light. Neutral-density black plastic film was used to determine the effect of light intensity on germination at 30 ℃. Tests of the effects of R/FR ratio on germination were set at 23/20 and 30 ℃, and R/FR ratio gradients were created by filtering incandescent light through 2, 4 and 6 layers of green plastic film.

Important findings The seeds of F. hispida were photoblastic, germinating only in light. R/FR ratio significantly influenced seed germination, followed by temperature and light intensity. Germination could be induced by very low PPFD though delayed. Although the final germinations in all temperature treatments under fluorescent light were >96%, mean time to germinate differed among temperature treatments. Seed germination at 0.42 R/FR ratio was inhibited at 23/20 ℃, while much higher and earlier germination was recorded at 30 ℃. In addition, an R/FR ratio of 0.34 significantly inhibited germination at 30 ℃.

Key words: pioneer species, Ficus hispida, photoblastic, R/FR ratio, temperature