Effects of ruminal and abomasal digestion on seed germinability of Japanese wild plants

Abstract

AbstractEffects of ruminal and abomasal digestion on seed germinability were investigated for Dactylis glomerata, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Zoysia japonica, Trifolium repens and Carex albata for varying in vitro incubation periods. Seed surface characteristics were examined by scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) following ruminal digestion. Abomasal digestion, but not ruminal digestion, reduced the germinability of D. glomerata seed (P < 0.001). For A. odoratum, ruminal digestion reduced germinability (P < 0.001), whereas for Z. japonica and T. repens, both ruminal and abomasal digestion (P < 0.001) decreased germinability. In contrast, both ruminal and abomasal digestion increased germination rates for C. albata seeds with a significant interaction (P < 0.001). SEM observations indicated few ruminal bacteria attached to the seed surface of C. albata, whereas bacterial attachments were numerous for other species. These results indicate the resistance of C. albata seed surface to microbial digestion and enhancement of seed germinability by abomasal digestion.