Habitat type differentation in peripheral Pinus sylvestris populations based on seed traits and germination data

Abstract

Seed morphology and seed germination power can be useful to characterise genotypes in natural populations. Measures of size and shape, their correlation and relationship with the germination capacity may be either the result of developmental programs or the response to a specific environmental condition. At the first instance, the development of the seed is highly influenced by the environment, its size and weight being strongly determined by the genotype and the environmental factors acting on the mother tree. Secondly, the survival of plants and their populations in fragmented landscapes strongly depends on their dispersal potential, seeds having specific morphological adaptations that influence their movement towards suitable germination microsite. Finally, germination and characteristics of juvenile seedlings are also influenced through seed morphology, inducing a successful distribution of the species. In our study we’ve focused on quantifying variation in seed traits and germination power among and within marginal populations of Pinus sylvestris L, considering the type of habitat. Discriminant function analysis showed significant differentiation of populations growing in peat bogs. Seed length, wing length and the percent of germination were the most useful traits to identify seeds of peat bog origin that are most probably adapted to the bog specific environment.