Seed dormancy and germination in different populations of the Argentinan endemic halophyte grass, Sporobolus phleoides (Poaceae: Chloridoideae).

RICHARD G.A.; CERINO; PENSIERO J.F.; ZABALA J.M.

AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY

CSIRO PUBLISHING

Lugar: Melbourne; Año: 2016

0067-1924

Sporobolus phleoides Hack. is an endemic grass of Argentina that is considered an important genetic resourcefor saline environments. Knowledge of its germination behaviour is an indispensable requirement for the future potentialuse of this species. Thus, the effects of different factors on germination were evaluated in six representative populationscollected from plants cultivated in a uniform environment. In addition, we investigated how the different parts of theseed contributed to dormancy and intraspecific variability. S. phleoides has non-deep physiological dormancy thatappeared to be related to its testa. Thereby, dormancy was completely removed with puncturing treatments. High levelsof germination were also obtained in seeds stratified at 8C over 100 days in a solution of nitrates. After-ripening treatmentdid not have a significant effect in breaking dormancy. Similar germination behaviour and dormancy levels were observedin the different populations, especially when they were subjected to cold stratification. Although further work is needed,cold stratification appears to be the major factor in determining the time of seedling establishment in natural environmentsfor this species.