Effect of storage time and pre-germination treatments on nine native herbaceous species with the potential to restore degraded soils of La Primavera Forest, Jalisco

Abstract

Background: Percentage and speed of germination are crucial factors that can restrict processes involved in plant succession during ecological restoration. Pre-germination treatments and the effect of storage time on germination percentage and mean germination time were investigated in nine native herbaceous plants of the La Primavera Flora and Fauna Protection Area.
 Question: Do the seeds of the studied species go dormant, and can storage time affect germination percentage and mean germination time?
 Species studied: Aeschynomene villosa var. longifolia (Micheli) Rudd, Crotalaria pumila Ort., Dalea leporina (Ait.) Bullock, D. foliolosa (Ait.) Barneby, Desmodium aparines (Link) DC., D. distortum (Aubl.) JF Macbr., D. tortuosum (Sw.) DC., Paspalum notatum Flüggé, and Zornia reticulata I. E. Smith.
 Place and dates of study: Area of Protection of Flora and Fauna La Primavera. From 2019 to 2020
 Methods: Under greenhouse conditions, four treatments were applied prior to germination: scarification with a tweezer pliers, immersion in water at 40 ᵒC for 24 and 48 h, and control.
 Results: Seven species had highly viable (≥ 90 %) seeds after 12 months of storage. Five species with seed dormancy reached germination above 80 % after 24 months of storage and scarification with a tweezer pliers. Mean germination time for most species decreased with the scarification treatment.
 Conclusion: Our findings provide basic information on the germination of native species that could help restore degraded sites in the La Primavera Flora and Fauna Protection Area.