Two Types of Morphophysiological Dormancy in Seeds of Two Genera (Osmorhiza and Erythronium) with an Arcto-Tertiary Distribution Pattern

Abstract

Temperature requirements for embryo growth and germination were determined for seeds of Osmorhiza occidentalis, O. chilensis, and Erythronium grandiflorum collected in western North America (Utah). Initially, embryos were 1.2, 0.6, and 0.8 mm in length, respectively, and they grew to 9.4, 9.2, and 4.1 mm, respectively, before germination occurred. Embryo growth and germination occurred during cold stratification (1, 5, 5/1 C), without a warm stratification pretreatment. However, warm stratification pretreatments at 30/15 C increased rates of embryo growth in O. occidentalis and E. grandiflorum seeds moved to low temperatures and germination rates in all three species. Optimum germination temperatures were 1, 5, or 5/1 C; gibberellic acid did not substitute for cold stratification. Thus, seeds of the three species have deep complex morphophysiological dormancy (MPD). In comparison, two species each of Osmorhiza and Erythronium from eastern North America have nondeep complex MPD and require warm followed by cold stratification for germination. Thus, disjunct species in genera with an Arcto-Tertiary distribution pattern can have different types of MPD. It is suggested that deep complex may have been derived from nondeep complex MPD.