Comparisons of soil seed bank classification systems

2003 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 101-111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Péter Csontos ◽  
Júlia Tamás

AbstractSince 1969, ten soil seed bank classification systems have been published. Among these systems, the number of recognized seed bank categories varies from three to twelve. Seed longevity is the main factor used for distinguishing categories, but dormancy and germination types are also important. Systems considering relatively few seed bank categories have been the most commonly proposed in contemporary plant ecology. In contrast, systems involving high numbers of categories have received limited interest because the detailed ecological knowledge of individual species required for their successful categorization is usually missing. A comprehensive table on the main features of seed bank classification systems is provided.

2020 ◽  
Vol 38 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. ASGARPOUR ◽  
R. GHORBANI ◽  
M. KHAJEH-HOSSEINI ◽  
F. GOLZARDI ◽  
M.N. ILKAEE

ABSTRACT: Seed longevity under different environmental conditions is considered as one of the most important factors in the spread and persistence of an exotic species. The Experiments were conducted to determine seed persistence in soil, effects of submergence in water, flooding of the soil, and high temperatures on germination and viability of spotted spurge (Chamaesyce maculata) and wild poinsettia (Euphorbia heterophylla) as two exotic species in different regions of Golestan province. Spotted spurge seeds buried at depth of 10 cm maintained their viability above 95% after a year, while wild poinsettia seeds were destroyed completely after exhuming the soil. Seeds of both species were unable to germinate under submergence, but 92% of the spotted spurge seeds remained viable under this condition for 14 d. No germination was observed after 9 weeks submersion. Submersion duration drastically affected seed germination of wild poinsettia, so that no germination occurred after 6 d submersion. Twelve days after flooding, spotted spurge emergence decreased by 57% compared to the control. Ten percentage of wild poinsettia seedlings emerged when flooding was kept up to 12 d after sowing, while control had 96% emergence. Germination of spotted spurge seeds subjected to 140 oC for 5 min was 5%. Viability of wild poinsettia seed was completely lost at 120 and 140 C for 5 min. These results suggest that spotted spurge is capable of forming persistent seedbank. Seeds of spotted spurge were partially tolerant to submersion in water, but wild poinsettia seed are susceptible to submergence. The burning of crop residue could also prevent augmenting the soil seed bank of both species.


1997 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 659-680 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. W. Dalling ◽  
M. D. Swaine ◽  
Nancy C. Garwood

ABSTRACTSeasonal changes in the densities of dormant seeds in the soil around eight pioneer trees in the 50-ha Forest Dynamics Plot, on Barro Colorado Island, Panamá were studied, and how seed dispersal and seed dormancy influenced patterns of seed abundance and distribution were examined. Twenty-four, 3-cm-deep soil samples were collected on 30 m transects radiating out from each of the trees in each of four time-intervals through the year, and four 21-cm-deep samples were collected beneath the focal tree crowns. In the surface 0–3 cm of soil, germinable seed densities of all species combined declined from a peak of 1090 seeds m−2 in the mid-wet season in August, to 330 seeds m−2 by the end of the wet season in November. In contrast, at soil depths >3 cm, there was little variation in soil seed bank density through the year. Some variation in soil seed bank density for individual species could be accounted for by distance to reproductive conspecifics. Among species, abundance in the soil was negatively correlated with seed size. Seed persistence varied greatly among species at this site; after 1 y of burial in mesh bags, seed germinability of four species was near zero, while four other species showed no consistent decline in seed germinability after >2 y of burial. For at least one species, Trema micrantha, prolonged seed dormancy was also possible under natural conditions. Twenty-five percent of Trema seeds extracted from the soil at a site occupied by an isolated Trema tree that died between 1982 and 1985 were still germinable in 1994.


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 206-214
Author(s):  
Noelia Cuello ◽  
Luis López-Mársico ◽  
Claudia Rodríguez

AbstractFire and grazing are large-scale disturbances that shape the structure and function of open habitats. In temperate grasslands of southern South America, fire is used as a management tool to control tussock grasses and improve forage quality. In this study, we examined if fire and two of its components (heat and smoke) affect germination from the soil seed bank of a temperate grassland in Uruguay. Soil samples were extracted from a recently burned site and from an adjacent area that had not been burned for at least 4 years. The latter was subjected to four treatments: (1) heat shock, (2) smoke, (3) heat shock and smoke and (4) control. The samples were placed in a germination chamber and germination was recorded for 140 days. Field burn was the treatment that differed most from the control. This treatment produced a significant increase in density and richness of germinants and the germination peak preceded those of the remaining treatments. The three treatments involving fire-related cues did not affect the seedling richness and density, but the germination of some individual species was enhanced by some of them, mainly those in which the seeds were smoked. Our results show that fire and its components stimulate the germination of some species of the Río de la Plata grasslands, contrary to what had been observed previously in the region. We also suggest that, unlike Mediterranean-type systems, other fire cues, alone or in combination with heat and smoke, may promote germination after a fire event.


2010 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. 714-719
Author(s):  
Ming LI ◽  
De-ming JIANG ◽  
Yong-ming LUO ◽  
Xiu-mei WANG ◽  
Bo LIU ◽  
...  

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. R. Huggins ◽  
B. A. Prigge ◽  
M. R. Sharifi ◽  
P. W. Rundel

2021 ◽  
Vol 25 ◽  
pp. e01403
Author(s):  
Yao Huang ◽  
Hai Ren ◽  
Jun Wang ◽  
Nan Liu ◽  
Shuguang Jian ◽  
...  

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