Security Eating, and Diet in the Large Rock-Rat, Zyzomys Woodwardi (Rodentia:Muridae).

1980 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 63 ◽  
Author(s):  
RJ Begg ◽  
CR Dunlop
Keyword(s):  
Northern Territory ◽  
Food Hoarding ◽  
Hard Seed ◽  
Seed Coats

The diet of Zyzomys woodwardi was studied by the identification of seeds eaten and accumulated in crevices at Nangaloar Caves, Northern Territory. Seeds of 11 species of plants of nutritional significance were identified; the most frequent were Canarium australianum, Terminalia carpentariae and Buchanania obovata. It was concluded that the accumulations of seeds did not represent caches or food hoarding but were the results of seeds being carried by rats to secure positions which provided protection from predators while the hard seed coats were gnawed through.

scholarly journals A PHYSIOLOGICAL APPROACH TO CONSERVATION OF FOUR PALM SPECIES: ARENGA AUSTRALASICA, CALAMUS AUSTRALIS, HYDRI- ASTELE WENDLANDIANA AND LICUALA RAMSAYI

REINWARDTIA ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 237
Author(s):  
Dian Latifah ◽  
Robert A. Congdon ◽  
Joseph A. Holtum
Keyword(s):  
Economic Value ◽  
Red Light ◽  
Tropical Rainforests ◽  
Light Conditions ◽  
Marginal Lands ◽  
Hard Seed ◽  
Palm Species ◽  
Physiological Approach ◽  
Physical Treatments ◽  
Seed Coats

Palms (Arecaceae) are an important component of many tropical rainforests. Many have also been cultivated widely for agricultural commodities with high economic value. They are also important components in rehabilitation of disturbed or marginal lands. Knowledge and application of germination strategies are essential in the cultivation of palms. Many species have seeds that do not germinate readily, even when light conditions are favourable. This research determined the effects of seed coats, light and temperature on germination of Arenga australasica (H. Wendl. & Drude) S. T. Blake ex H. E. Moore, Calamus australis Mart., Hydriastele wendlandiana (F. Muell.) H. Wendl. & Drude and Licuala ramsayi var. tuckeri Barford & Dowe. We examined physical treatments to promote germination or break dormancy, as well as different light and temperature conditions. The results showed that the hard seed coats of the four species slowed imbibition. Scarified seeds germinated best for A. australasica, C. australis and L. ramsayi. The germination of all seeds was inhibited by far red light. The red light requirement suggests that these species prefer to colonise open areas. This implies that dispersal agents, canopy gaps and forest margins may play important roles in promoting regeneration as well as conservation of these palm species.

scholarly journals Effect of Organic and Botanicals Priming on Seed Quality Parameter of Pigeonpea (Cajanuscajan (L.) Millspaugh)

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
A. Divij Reddy ◽  
A. K. Chaurasia ◽  
P. K. Shukla ◽  
Ram Pal Singh
Keyword(s):  
Growth Regulators ◽  
Leaf Extract ◽  
Seed Quality ◽  
Quality Parameters ◽  
Quality Parameter ◽  
The Other ◽  
Hard Seed ◽  
Normal Seedling ◽  
Seed Coats ◽  
Moringa Leaf Extract

Presence of hard seed coats and several seed borne pathogens hinder the normal seedling establishment in legumes. Earlier seed enhancement is mainly achieved though synthetics and growth regulators. To evaluate the effect of organics and botanicals on quality parameters of the seed an experiment was conducted in Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences. Treatments in the experiment comprised of Panchagavya at 3%, 5% and 7% for 12 hrs., Beejamrutha at 5%, 7% and 9% for 12 hrs., Coconut water at 6% and 8% for 12hrs., Moringa leaf extract at 5% and 7% for 12hrs and Sea weed extract at 3% and 5% for 12hrs.Priming with the selected organics and botanicalsis found to enhance the quality parameters compared to untreated control. The treatment Panchagavya at 7% for duration of 12 hours was found to be superior compared to the other treatments in the study.

Mechanical Scarification of Dodder Seeds with a Handheld Rotary Tool

2012 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 485-489 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine M. Ghantous ◽  
Hilary A. Sandler
Keyword(s):  
Seed Weight ◽  
Field Research ◽  
Batch Size ◽  
Research Projects ◽  
Hard Seed ◽  
Rotary Tool ◽  
Reliable Methods ◽  
Seed Coats ◽  
Grinding Stone ◽  
Germinated Seeds

Dodder seeds are physically dormant because of hard seed coats and do not readily germinate without scarification. Reliable methods of scarification for small lots of dodder seed are needed to facilitate laboratory, greenhouse, and field research projects. Dodder seed was scarified for varying times using a handheld rotary tool at the 10,000 rpm setting with a conical grinding-stone bit attached. Percentage of germination and weight change of seeds were assessed using scarification times between 0 and 4 min at 0.5-min increments. Mean seed weight loss and mean number of germinated seeds increased quadratically as scarification time increased. Scarifying for 2.5 min was judged the shortest time with maximal germination. Another study evaluated the effect of seed number (100 to 400 seeds sample−1) on the efficacy of rotary tool scarification when scarification time was held constant at 2.5 min. Percentage of germination decreased linearly as seed batch size increased. The handheld rotary tool provides consistent and repeatable scarification of dodder seed with germination rates greater than 80%.

Fire and survival of Stylosanthes spp. in the dry savanna woodlands of the Northern Territory

1982 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 203 ◽  
Author(s):  
JJ Mott
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Northern Territory ◽  
The Other ◽  
Dry Matter Yield ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Native Grass ◽  
Hard Seed ◽  
Stylosanthes Humilis ◽  
Good Germination

A series of burns was carried out during the early and late, dry season and early wet season, in mixed native grass-legume plots containing Stylosanthes humilis, S. hamata, S, scabra and S. viscosa as the legume component. The least mortality was shown by S. scabra, but its survival was poor in any sward more than 3 years old. After burning the other species relied solely on seedling regeneration for subsequent season's growth. Fire killed a considerable quantity of seed, but its heat softened hard seed in the soil and good germination occurred with summer rains. However, the presence of a large proportion of soft seed through the winter months could lead to out-of-season germination and subsequent death of seedlings after unseasonal winter rains. Although the total dry matter yield of swards was reduced by all fires, burning could play an important part in increasing yields of S. hamata in swards overgrown by dense native grass, since it increases the amount of soft seed in the soil. If burning causes a high mortality of mature plants of the perennials S. scabra and S. viscosa, a reduction in stocking rate may be needed to ensure regeneration of a productive sward, as these species have slow seedling growth rates.

Anatomical structure and nutritive value of lupin seed coats

2001 ◽  
Vol 52 (10) ◽  
pp. 985 ◽  
Author(s):  
Z. H. Miao ◽  
J. A. Fortune ◽  
J. Gallagher
Keyword(s):  
Seed Coat ◽  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Crude Fibre ◽  
Hard Seed ◽  
Anatomical Analysis ◽  
Lupin Seed ◽  
Series Of Experiments ◽  
Selection For ◽  
Growing Conditions ◽  
Seed Coats

Selection and breeding for yield and adaptation to environmental conditions often changes a number of characteristics of crops, and may influence the value of seed for animals. A series of experiments was conducted to evaluate the effect of breeding and growing conditions on the structure and degradability of lupin seed coats. Breeding has had significant influences on both seed size and seed coat structure of lupins. For instance, cultivars of Lupinus angustifolius released in 1987 and 1988 tended to have smaller seeds with a thicker seed coat than those released in 1971 (P < 0.05). Selection for soft seeds has resulted in a reduction of seed coat thickness in L. angustifolius. Hardseeded and roughseeded lines of L. cosentinii had thicker coats (P < 0.05) than softseeded and smoothseeded, respectively. The main contributor to the thick seed coat of hardseeded lines was a layer of cells known as the hourglass layer, which is located between the outer palisade and inner parenchyma. Anatomical analysis revealed that the soft seed coat tended to have short and round cells, whereas the hard seed tended to have long cells in the palisade layer. Smooth seeds had round cells in the subpalisade, but rough seeds had long cells in this layer. Although the seed coats of lupins contained about 80% crude fibre, with L. cosentinii and L. pilosus having more fibre than L. angustifolius, the fibre in lupin seed coats was highly digestible by sheep.

scholarly journals The crypsis hypothesis explained: a reply to Jayasuriya et al. (2015)

2015 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 402-408 ◽  
Author(s):  
Torbjørn R. Paulsen ◽  
Louise Colville ◽  
Matthew I. Daws ◽  
Sigrunn Eliassen ◽  
Göran Högstedt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Seed Coat ◽  
Generation Time ◽  
Dormancy Release ◽  
Hard Seed ◽  
Theory Of Evolution ◽  
Key Features ◽  
Evolution By Natural Selection ◽  
Hard Seed Coat ◽  
Seed Coats ◽  
By Products

AbstractIn imbibing seeds, resumption of metabolism leads to the unavoidable release of volatile by-products that are perceived as cues by rodent seed predators. The crypsis hypothesis proposes that the primary function of a water-impermeable, hard seed coat is to reduce rodent seed predation by rendering seeds olfactorily cryptic. In an opinion paper, Jayasuriya et al. (2015) find the crypsis hypothesis unscientific and ‘not consistent with Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection’. It is unfortunate that Jayasuriya et al. (2015) did not appreciate that the crypsis hypothesis offers an alternative explanation for the evolution of water-impermeable seeds: released seed volatiles are cues used by rodents to locate seeds, and variation in seed-coat permeability leading to differences in seed volatile release represents the variable under selection. Furthermore, the sealing of water-impermeable seed coats imposes a cost of increased generation time and, therefore, dormancy-release mechanisms are expected to subsequently evolve in response to local environmental conditions. We also disagree with most other claims by Jayasuriya et al. (2015), who failed to appreciate how species with dimorphic seeds – one morph with permeable and the other with impermeable seed coats – benefit from rodent caching behaviour and population dynamics. We welcome this opportunity to clarify and elaborate on key features and the evolution of water-impermeable seed coats according to the crypsis hypothesis.

Germination and establishment of the weeds Sida acuta and Pennisetum pedicellatum in the Northern Territory

1980 ◽  
Vol 20 (105) ◽  
pp. 463 ◽  
Author(s):  
JJ Mott
Keyword(s):  
Northern Territory ◽  
Dry Season ◽  
Dormant Seed ◽  
Weed Species ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Perennial Weed ◽  
Hard Seed ◽  
Sida Acuta ◽  
Seed Fall ◽  
Almost All

Two serious weed species in the Northern Territory are Sida acuta, a perennial weed of improved pastures, and Pennisetum pedicellatum, an annual grass that infests grain sorghum crops. In P. pedicellatum the customary successive ploughing carried out to kill seedlings in the early wet season may not give satisfactory control of the weed, while with S. acuta there appears to be a long-term dormant seed pool which can give rise to new generations of seedlings, Investigation into the germination requirements of the 2 species showed that both are dormant at seed fall and require high alternating temperatures to remove an after-ripening requirement. In addition S. acuta needs a further period at high temperature to fracture its impermeable seed coat. Almost all P. pedicellatum seed is non-dormant at the end of the dry season, but that of S. acuta still retains 30% hard seed after one dry season. In the field P. pedicellatum germinated faster than S. acuta, with 80% of the total wet season germination occurring with the first rain. In S. acuta germination was spread over the first 2 months of the season. Ploughing immediately after the break of the wet season killed seedlings of P. pedicellatum, but could bury viable dormant seed. Once buried, this store of dormant seed could remain viable and germinate when disturbed at crop planting. At the end of the wet season no viable seed of P. pedicellatum remained in the soil, but there could be a considerable amount of hard S. acuta seed. The results suggest that control of P. pedicellatum could be best accomplished by the use of minimum tillage procedures, with little ground disturbance to bury the seed, while oversowing with a vigorous perennial pasture species such as calopo (Calopognium mucunoides) could lead to suppression of S. acuta.

scholarly journals Capacité germinative des graines et aptitude au bouturage des tiges, des racines tubéreuses de l’espèce Ampelocissus multistriata(Baker) Planch.

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 1619-1628
Author(s):  
Mberdoum Memti Nguinambaye ◽  
Ngam-Asra Nadjioroum ◽  
Otchom Boy Brahim
Keyword(s):  
Applied Sciences ◽  
Hard Seed ◽  
Treatment Processes ◽  
Physical Chemical ◽  
Tuberous Roots ◽  
Mechanical Methods ◽  
The One ◽  
The University ◽  
University Of Ouagadougou ◽  
Seed Coats

Cette étude s’inscrit dans le contexte de la valorisation des espèces végétales spontanées ayant des valeurs  nutritives et économiques afin de contribuer à leur domestication. Cette étude a consisté à tester les capacités germinatives des graines de l’Ampelocissus multistriata par les procédés physiques, chimiques et mécaniques d’une part et tester l’aptitude au bouturage des tiges feuillées, des tiges feuillées avec des racines tubéreuses d’autre part. Pour cela, une surface de 400 m2 a été délimitée au sein de la Faculté des Sciences Exactes et  Appliquées de l’Université de N’Djamena pour les deux tests. Par ailleurs, les procédés physiques, chimiques et mécaniques ont été menés à l’Université de Ouagadougou. Les résultats obtenus, ont montré que les tiges feuillées n’ont pas bouturé. Par contre, les tiges feuillées munies des racines tubéreuses ont bouturé à 73,23 %. En ce qui concerne la germination des graines, tous les procédés des traitements physiques, chimiques et mécaniques n’ont pas pu lever la dormance de ces graines. Leurs téguments, très durs, n’ont pas été scarifiés et cela n’a pas permis à l’eau et l’oxygène d’y entrer pour que les graines puissent germer. Seules, les graines ayant séjourné dans le tube digestif des animaux et qui ont été scarifiées par les enzymes intestinales et les sucs digestifs ont toutes germé. Il s’agit d’une endozoochorie. La connaissance des modalités de la propagation par les graines ou par les boutures peut apporter une importante contribution à la conservation de la diversité végétale, à la domestication et à la valorisation de cette plante.   English title: Germinative capacity of seeds and aptitude for cutting of stems, tuberous roots of the species Ampelocissus multistriata (Baker) Planch This study is part of the context of valuing spontaneous plant species with nutritional and economic values in order to contribute to their domestication. This study consisted in testing the germination capacities of the seeds of Ampelocissus multistriata by physical, chemical and mechanical methods on the one hand and testing the aptitude for cuttings of leafy stems, leafy stems with tuberous roots on the other hand. For this, an area of 400 m2 has been defined within the Faculty of Exact and Applied Sciences of the University of N’Djamena for the two tests. In addition, the physical, chemical and mechanical processes were carried out at the University of Ouagadougou. The results obtained showed that the leafy stems did not cuttings. In contrast, the leafy stems with tuberous roots cut at 73.23%. Regarding seed germination, not all physical, chemical and mechanical treatment processes were able to break the dormancy of these seeds. Their very hard seed coats were not scarified, and this did not allow water and oxygen to enter them for the seeds to germinate. Only the seeds which have stayed in the digestive tract of animals and which have been scarified by intestinal enzymes and digestive juices have all germinated. It is an endozoochory. Knowing the methods of propagation by seeds or cuttings can make an important contribution to the conservation of plant diversity, to the domestication and enhancement of this plant.

Mechanisms regulating germination in seeds of Stylosanthes

1975 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 281 ◽  
Author(s):  
CJ Gardener
Keyword(s):  
Water Content ◽  
Seed Coat ◽  
Initial Level ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Germination Inhibitors ◽  
Hard Seed ◽  
Embryo Dormancy ◽  
Seed Coats ◽  
Water Contents ◽  
Soil Water Contents

Seed coat impermeability, embryo dormancy, decline in embryo vigour and the effect of adhering pods on germination were measured monthly on 15 lines of Stylosanthes which had weathered on the soil surface. The effect of pod and seed coat on imbibition was investigated in S. humilis over a range of soil water contents. The level of impermeability of newly harvested seed was initially high for all lines, but the rates of loss varied both between and within species, which indicated the possibility of screening for residual hard seed. The lines also differed in their ability to maintain impermeability over a 14-day germination period. The initial level of embryo dormancy varied between species but the protection afforded against germination was short lived. Decline in embryo vigour appeared to be partly caused by the testa restricting the radicle mechanically. The presence of pods enclosing the seed reduced germination by a mean of 15.4%, but this ranged from 1% in a line of S. guyanensis with thin papery pods to 42% in a line of S. viscosa with thick strong pods. There was no evidence of germination inhibitors in either pods or seed coats, but both restricted the entry of water into the seed. Imbibed seed could be dehydrated without damage provided the radicle had not emerged from the seed coat. This occurred when the water content of the seed reached 90%.

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