ISHS Acta Horticulturae 314: II International Symposium on Propagation of Ornamental Plants
ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS DURING SEED MATURATION AFFECTING SEED GERMINATION |
| Author: | Y. Gutterman |
| Keywords: | Phenotypic diversity, seed germinability, position effects, daylength effects |
| Abstract:
As the genotypic inheritance seems to increase the fitness of a species to its natural habitat by germinating at the right time and in the right place, the phenotypic influences seem to result in an increase in the diversity which will ensure the germination of only a portion of the seed population of one plant species in one season in the right place and at the right time. The other seeds will remain in the "seed bank" and germinate in the following season or seasons thus spreading the risk. This is very important in the extreme deserts where rain amounts and distribution is unpredictable. If the genotypic influences ensure the fitness of the plant species to its habitat conditions so that the seeds germinate at the right time of the right season and in the right place, the phenotypic influences during maturation ensure that even under optimal conditions only a portion of the seed population will germinate in one rain event or in one season. | |
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