Effect of Temperature Regimes on Germination of Dimorphic Seeds of Atriplex prostrata

Abstract

Dimorphic seeds of Atriplex prostrata were removed from cold dry storage monthly over a one year period to test for fluctuations in seed dormancy and germination rate. For each seed type, four replicates of 25 seeds were exposed to four alternating night/day temperature regimes mimicking seasonal fluctuations in Ohio: 5/15 °C; 5/25 °C; 15/25 °C and 20/35 °C with a corresponding 12-h photoperiod (20 μmol m−2 s−1; 400 – 700 nm). We found a significant three-way interaction of seed size, temperature and month for both percent germination and the rate of germination. Large seeds showed the greatest germination at the 20/35 °C and 5/25 °C temperature regimes and small seeds at the 5/25 °C regime. Large seeds had greater germination at all temperatures as compared to small seeds. Large seeds had the fastest germination rates at 20/35 °C followed by 5/25 °C whereas small seeds had the fastest rates at 5/25 °C followed by 20/35 °C.