Abstract
Temperature is one of the most important abiotic factors affecting seed germination, and it is strongly influenced by local site conditions. Seeds of Nothofagus glauca, an endemic and vulnerable species of the Mediterranean region of Chile and the most representative of the Mediterranean forests of South America, were collected. In this study, we evaluated the effect of temperature on different germinative attributes of five N. glauca provenances representative of their natural distribution. The seeds were treated at a constant temperature (i.e., 18 °C, 22 °C, 26 °C, or 30 °C) in the absence of light for 40 days. The results show that in all the provenances, the germination ratio and energy increase linearly with temperature until reaching an optimum temperature (i.e., 22 °C), above which they decrease severely. At 22 °C, the response of average germination speed and germination vigor was significantly higher than with the other temperatures (performance of germination start day was not clear). The base temperature was around 18 °C and the maximum, above 30 °C, which may be close to thermo-inhibition. Given the threat of climate change, it is necessary to increase research in terms of the possible adaptation of this species to increased temperatures and prolonged periods of drought
Highlights
Nothofagus glauca (Phil.) Krasser is an endemic species of Central Chile that belongs to the Nothofagaceae family and is the most representative of the Mediterranean forests of its genus in South America
The results show that temperature has a significant effect on the germination of N. glauca seeds from different provenances (Table 1, Figures 1 and 2)
The highest germination percentage was obtained at 22 ◦C, very different values were recorded in the germination ratio, from 34.0 ± 0.6% in the Los Ruiles provenance to 78 ± 0.3% in the Las Cañas provenance, observing the same tendency in the germinative energy
Summary
Nothofagus glauca (Phil.) Krasser (common name, hualo or roble maulino) is an endemic species of Central Chile that belongs to the Nothofagaceae family and is the most representative of the Mediterranean forests of its genus in South America It is a deciduous, monoecious tree that can reach up to 30 m in height and 2 m in diameter [1], at present it is difficult to find individuals that are more than 40 cm in diameter. The N. glauca forests have a discontinuous distribution in a latitudinal range of about 400 km, from 33◦58 S, 71◦05 W to 37◦27 S, 71◦58 W, they are mostly concentrated in the Maule Region [3] They are a transitional system between xerophytic formations and the southernmost temperate forests. The highest population density in Chile is concentrated in N. glauca distribution area, with the consequent pressure on natural resources, including the N. glauca forests
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