Abstract
Abstract. Pinus halepensis is a Mediterranean tree species occupying areas of high tourist interest, where it forms aesthetic and recreational forests. However, intense human pressure, adverse climatic conditions and overgrazing degrade Aleppo pine forest ecosystems and render the natural regeneration of this species difficult. The ecological, landscape, recreational and soil conservation uses of P. halepensis along with its aesthetic value, make this species important for landscape planning and multi-purpose forestry. For these reasons, artificial regeneration may be required in order to render ecosystem restoration faster. Although P. halepensis is characterized by a high germination capacity and a constant temperature of 20 °C is considered optimal for germination, no research has dealt with the germination behaviour and early growth of seedlings under alternative temperature conditions similar to those dominating outdoors. Moreover, little research was conducted on seed quality characteristics of this species. Thus, in this study seed quality of P. halepensis was estimated by measuring purity, number of seeds per kg, weight of 1000 seeds, average seed weight, seed moisture content and percentage of empty seeds. Also, seed germination capacity, germination rate, percentage of infected and not germinated viable seeds, abnormal seedlings as well as the total seedling length were studied under laboratory (alternative temperature) and chamber (constant temperature) conditions with the same photoperiod. Results showed that the percentage of empty seeds and abnormal seedlings was extremely low and the total germination percentage was very high (87–90%) in both environments. Germination capacity, germination rate and the total length of seedlings did not show any differences among the two growth environments.
Highlights
Pinus halepensis is a Mediterranean tree species occupying areas of high tourist interest, where it forms aesthetic and recreational forests
In many cases, artificial regeneration is required in order to make ecosystem restoration faster
Germination rate may vary with geographical origin of seeds
Summary
Pinus halepensis is a Mediterranean tree species occupying areas of high tourist interest, where it forms aesthetic and recreational forests. Intense human pressure, adverse climatic conditions and overgrazing degrade Aleppo pine forest ecosystems and render the natural regeneration of this species difficult. The ecological, landscape, recreational and soil conservation uses of P. halepensis along with its aesthetic value, make this species important for landscape planning and multi-purpose forestry For these reasons, artificial regeneration may be required in order to render ecosystem restoration faster. Seed germination capacity, germination rate, percentage of infected and not germinated viable seeds, abnormal seedlings as well as the total seedling length were studied under laboratory (alternative temperature) and chamber (constant temperature) conditions with the same photoperiod. Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis) is the most widely distributed pine species in the Mediterranean Basin, where it is subjected to recurrent wildfires (Trabaud et al 1985, Naveh 1990, Tsitsoni 1997) It regenerates after fires, and in lack of fires, under suitable stand conditions (Tsakaldimi et al 2004). Pinus halepensis seeds showed a great heterogeneity in their germination, ranging from 15 to 85% for Greek provenances, around 90% for Sierra de los Donceles (Spain) seeds, 50% for Mt Carmel (Israel), and 60% for Italian provenances (Petruzzelli 1984, Martinez-Sanchez et al 1995, Henig-Sever et al 2000, Thanos 2000)
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