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Deep simple morphophysiological dormancy in seeds of the basal taxad Cephalotaxus

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 May 2011

Chia Ju Yang ,
Ching-Te Chien ,
Yue Ken Liao ,
Shun-Ying Chen ,
Jerry M. Baskin ,
Carol C. Baskin  and
Ling-Long Kuo-Huang
Chia Ju Yang
Affiliation:
Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, National Chiayi University, Chiayi60004, Taiwan
Ching-Te Chien*
Affiliation:
Division of Silviculture, Taiwan Forestry Research Institute, 53 Nan-Hai Road, Taipei10066, Taiwan
Yue Ken Liao
Affiliation:
Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, National Chiayi University, Chiayi60004, Taiwan
Shun-Ying Chen
Affiliation:
Division of Silviculture, Taiwan Forestry Research Institute, 53 Nan-Hai Road, Taipei10066, Taiwan
Jerry M. Baskin
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky40506-0225, USA
Carol C. Baskin
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky40506-0225, USA Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky40546-0312, USA
Ling-Long Kuo-Huang
Affiliation:
Institute of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, College of Life Science, National Taiwan University, Taipei10617, Taiwan
*
*Correspondence Fax: +886 2 23078742 Email: chien@tfri.gov.tw
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Abstract

Although mature seeds of the monogeneric conifer family Cephalotaxaceae sensu stricto have underdeveloped embryos, no definitive studies have been done to classify dormancy in this family. Our primary purpose was to determine the kind of dormancy in seeds of Cephalotaxus wilsoniana and to put the results into a broad phylogenetic context for gymnosperms. The species is of horticultural and medicinal value, and information is needed on how to propagate it efficiently from seeds. Embryo growth and germination were monitored for seeds at warm, cold and warm plus cold temperatures, and germination was monitored for seeds subjected to: (1) cold →  warm →  cold →  warm; and (2) warm →  cold →  warm →  cold →  warm temperature sequences. The effects of gibberellic acids GA3 and GA4 were tested on radicle emergence in ungerminated seeds and on shoot emergence in root-emerged seeds. Germination was promoted by ≥ 36 weeks of warm stratification followed by ≥ 8 weeks of cold stratification, but only if seeds were returned to high temperatures. The underdeveloped embryo must increase in length by >120% before the radicle emerges. Neither GA3 nor GA4 was effective in promoting radicle emergence; however, both plant growth regulators increased rate (but not percentage) of shoot emergence in root-emerged seeds. We conclude that seeds of C. wilsoniana have the deep simple level of morphophysiological dormancy (MPD), C1b-C3-B1b; thus, warm stratification followed by cold stratification and then warm-temperature incubation are required for germination. In gymnosperms, MPD is known in cycads, Ginkgo and now in three families of conifers.

Keywords

Cephalotaxuscold stratificationdeep simple morphophysiological dormancygibberellinsseed germinationunderdeveloped embryowarm plus cold stratification
Type
Research Article
Information
Seed Science Research , Volume 21 , Issue 3 , September 2011 , pp. 215 - 226
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011

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