Seed Germination Characteristics of Rhus tripartitum (Ucria) Grande and Ziziphus lotus (L.): Effects of Water Stress

Autor: Zouaoui Refka, Ksontini Mustapha, Ferchichi Ali
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2013
Předmět:
Zdroj: International Journal of Ecology, Vol 2013 (2013)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 1687-9708
1687-9716
43970540
DOI: 10.1155/2013/819810
Popis: Ziziphus lotus (L.) Lam. (Rhamnaceae) and Rhus tripartitum or Sumac (Anacardiaceae) are two indigenous species from arid and semiarid regions of Tunisia, characterized by a severe climate where dry seasons are very long. The combined action of anthropogenic factors and climate in arid regions caused a gradual threat of plant assets. In this context, an experimental study of the effects of water stress (0 to −1 MPa) on seeds has identified the water requirements germinal stage of both species. The results showed that both species were able to germinate at relatively low water potentials. However, beyond −0.6 MPa, germination was completely inhibited for R. tripartitum, when it reached for another 50% for Z. lotus. Increasing the concentration of PEG6000 progressively inhibited germination in both species. Only Z. lotus could be considered tolerant of water stress, because, to −1 MPa, seeds germinated with a rate of 17%. It resulted in that the species Z. lotus presented an adaptive capacity to aridity much greater than that observed for R. tripartitum.
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